The Threat
After April 8, 2014, neither product will receive updates from Microsoft. That means no more bug fixes, and no more security updates. Both products will keep working; you can continue using them as before. But you will be increasingly vulnerable to malware and attacks from the Internet.
There are still plenty of Windows XP users on the Internet today. There will likely still be plenty after April 8: Windows XP will still be a rewarding target for the bad guys (malware authors and distributors).
It might even become a more attractive target than it is today. Since new exploits won't be patched during Microsoft's regular monthly cycle, a compromised machine will stay compromised. It's likely that the bad guys will even examine patches for later versions of Windows to see if a comparable exploit exists for Windows XP.
I know that I don't want to be using Windows XP online past the end-of-life date. Office 2003? Well, maybe. Microsoft Office isn't quite as exposed to Internet threats as is Windows.
Take Action
Don't just stand there, do something! But what? You have a bunch of options:
Replace everything: Buy a new computer, with Windows 7 or Windows 8, and the latest version of Microsoft Office. Your Windows XP computer is likely getting old, anyway, and might not be suitable for the latest software. If enough people do this, it could become a modest economic stimulus.
If you are so inclined, this is an opportunity to try Apple products. (I make no recommendation, one way or the other.)
Upgrade software only: If your Windows XP machine is newer, or has had some substantial upgrades, it might be worth keeping the hardware. You could purchase and install Windows 7 or 8, and the latest version of Microsoft Office. Upgrading an older machine with a retail-purchased Windows release isn't the easiest thing in the world to do, though.
You could save some money, albeit with some added risk, by upgrading the operating system to Windows 7, and re-installing your copy of Office 2003 (assuming that your license permits it). Office 2003 will run under Windows 7, but not Windows 8.
Work disconnected: Your old Windows XP machine will be perfectly safe to use if you disconnect it from the Internet. That's not so crazy an idea. For many of us, our online lives have moved from PCs to phones and tablets. Perhaps you use a traditional PC only for word processing or spreadsheets.
Do nothing: Bury your head in the sand, and keep using your Windows XP system beyond end-of-life. It will soon be compromised by malware, and become part of a botnet. You'll likely become the victim of identity theft. No, I don't think that's a very good alternative, either.
Afterward
If you do buy a whole new computer, you'll have to dispose of the old one. Don't be too quick to set it out by the curb or take it to a recycling center. There are two things you should do first.
Wipe the hard drive: You've got a lot of confidential data on that hard drive. Assuming that the computer still works, I'll recommend that you wipe it with a product like DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke). Even if you intend to remove the hard drive and physically destroy it, do a software wipe first.
Cleaning a computer for disposal is a topic for another article.
Consider donating the computer: Even an old Windows XP computer can have a second life. It may not be powerful enough for newer versions of Windows, but there are plenty of Linux-based operating system distributions that might work. Perhaps you could give the (cleaned) computer to an organization that can prepare it for a low-income family to help bridge the digital divide.
-- Joe Levy
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