Considering Microsoft’s April 8 Windows XP deadline, some of UK’s largest banks are going for extended Windows XP support contracts to keep their systems protected against any kind of virus or hacker attacks.
According to Reuters, five of UKs biggest banks including Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC, Barclays and Santander either have or are in the process of agreeing to extended support contracts with the software giant to continue supporting their systems and ATMs until they are upgraded.
According to a bulletin released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security last week, once Microsoft kills support for the OS, computer systems running Windows XP would be facing a major security risk as they would become vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
For more read: Are you at risk from Windows XP Hacks?
Around 95 percent of the world’s ATMs currently run either Windows XP of Windows XP embedded. According to NCR, one of the biggest ATM makers, only one-third of the world’s 2.2 million ATMs will be upgraded to newer software, including Windows 7 by the April 8 deadline.
Banks in the United States are however avoiding upgradation to newer OS until they upgrade their ATMs to read chip cards which will be rolled out in the next few years.
A Microsoft spokesman said to Reuters: “There are certainly large enterprise customers who haven’t finished their migrations yet and are purchasing custom support… The cost will depend on both the specific needs of the customer and what support they already have in place, so it’s different for every customer.”
For more coverage on Windows XP deadline read
- Windows XP retirement to affect British government bodies says Labour,
- Things to do to stay secure post Windows XP end of life,
- Microsoft wants you to help your friends, family get off Windows XP,
- Microsoft to help users migrate away from Windows XP with new data transfer tool
