Writing on the Google Chrome blog, Chrome Directory of Engineering Mark Larson explains how “millions of people” are still reliant on Windows XP-powered computers and need access to an up-to-date, modern web browser.
Microsoft officially ended support for Windows XP on April 8th 2014. Many users have still not upgraded to Windows 7 or 8.1 though, despite the 14-year old operating system now being vulnerable to critical malware and viruses.
Larson writes that the lack of security patches for XP is making it “increasingly difficult” for the Chrome team to ensure that the world’s most-used web browser can be run securely. He warns “this isn’t just a formality”, describing how XP now faces “critical” security vulnerabilities.
The original plan was for Google Chrome support to end on Windows XP during this month. Yet despite Google’s concerns about operating Chrome securely on the platform, it has now committed to providing updates through until the end of 2015. At least another eight months of usage for those who are still required to run Windows XP, whether at work, school or just because they haven’t upgraded, has now been opened.
Larson said “Millions of people are still working on XP computers every day. We want those people to have the option to use a browser that’s up-to-date and as safe as possible on an unsupported operating system” before affirming “We will continue to provide regular updates and security patches to Chrome on XP through the end of 2015.”
Google is still eager for users to upgrade to a newer version of Windows if possible though. It warns that people running XP are “inherently in danger” of being attacked by malicious software, adding “we strongly encourage everyone to update to a supported, secure operating system.”
That message will be repeated by Microsoft until it sees XP usage as a speck of dust on a desk. Unfortunately, this really hasn’t happened to date, despite the company’s best efforts. Although XP market share is declining, depending on what numbers you look at it still has a global foothold of 12-18%.
Indeed, the prospect of being able to run Chrome for 8 more months may prevent more XP users from upgrading to a newer version of Windows. Microsoft has also opted to leave out XP in its free Windows 10 upgrade offer which will only be made available to users of Windows 7 and 8.1.
