Η Microsoft has long announced that on April 8 it stops technical support and periodic security updates for its older - but still very popular - operating system Windows XP.
Not only is this software "running" today on nearly one in three personal computers in homes and offices around the world, but also on many bank ATMs. Some have already started - somewhat excessively - to doom about an imminent "XP Revelation", while the major cyber security company Symantec has issued a statement recommending Windows XP users to upgrade their operating system as soon as possible. At the same time, he warns, that after April 8, many ATM machines will now be more at risk from cyberattacks from viruses and other malware once Microsoft stops supporting its operating system.
Microsoft released Windows XP in 2001 and many users "stuck" on this operating system, refusing to upgrade to later versions of Windows (Vista, 7 and 8). The company considers that the natural life cycle of its product has already lasted too long, while it points out that the newer versions of Windows are safer and more enriched. However, around the world, few individuals, companies and utilities have so far found no significant reason to change Windows XP. According to research firm NetMarketShare, XPs are used in about 30% of PCs worldwide, while others estimate at least 200 million users worldwide.
Although several anti-virus programs - such as of Symantec - will continue to "cover" Windows XP, protection may no longer be fully effective once Microsoft has stopped its own updates.
An antivirus program can probably detect and neutralize a virus, but it cannot patch a security hole that hackers have discovered in the operating system itself. That's exactly why Symantec was quick to call XP users to upgrade their operating system, given that Microsoft normally continues security updates for the most recent versions of Windows (Vista and later).
Κάποιοι ειδικοί φοβούνται, ότι οι υπολογιστές (ακόμη και τα ΑΤΜ) που «τρέχουν» Windows XP, θα γίνουν πλέον ο Νο 1 στόχος των χάκερ. Για ορισμένους κατόχους παλαιών υπολογιστών με ΧΡ, τα μηχανήματα των οποίων δεν έχουν αρκετή μνήμη και επεξεργαστική ισχύ για να «σηκώσουν» τα νέα Windows 8, ίσως η μόνη -αναγκαστική- επιλογή θα είναι να αγοράσουν νέο υπολογιστή. Όσοι δεν θέλουν ή δεν μπορούν να εγκαταλείψουν τον old υπολογιστή τους με τα ΧΡ, θα πρέπει να αρκεστούν στα προγράμματα κατά των ιών – και ο Θεός βοηθός! Σημειωτέον ότι τα προγράμματα πλοήγησης Google Chrome και Mozilla Firefox θα συνεχίσουν να συνεργάζονται με τα Winndows XP, όχι όμως οι δύο πιο πρόσφατες εκδόσεις του Internet Explorer of Microsoft (also, on April 8, technical support for the Office 2003 package will stop).
In any case, experts recommend users not to use their Xp computers after April 8 to make online transactions with banks, purchases from online stores and general exchanges of sensitive personal and business data. Ideally, PCs with CP should not be networked, but only used for word processing, games, and so on.
Risks for ATMs
According to Symantec, ATMs are essentially computers that control access to cash, and most machines, especially the older models, run on Windows XP versions, with the banking industry facing a serious risk of cyber attacks. The US company points out that cyber criminals are already targeting ATMs with increasingly sophisticated mechanisms.
At the end of 2013, Symantec discovered a new malware in Mexico that allowed attackers to enter ATM by taking cash using an external keyboard (this threat was called Backdoor.Ploutus). A few weeks later, this malware evolved into English and expanded to other countries (the new kind was called Backdoor.Ploutus.B).
This malware now allows hackers to remotely send a cell phone via SMS to the broken ATM and then go to the machine and collect the cash. Already, according to Symantec, this technique is used in many places around the world. Attackers just need to properly "fix" their phone, connect it to the ATM and "infect" the ATM with Ploutus.
Modern ATMs, according to Symantec, have upgraded security features that can prevent such attacks. But older ATMs that are still running Windows XP, especially those in remote locations, may be targets for hackers.
Source: kathimerini.gr
