Microsoft recently patched the termed “zero-day” flaw in Internet Explorer’s programming which would otherwise have made it possible for hackers to take control of your computer. This patch has even been released for Windows XP despite the fact that the operating system is no longer supported. (You just need to ensure that you have the Automatic Updates feature enabled on your computer.) There are many users who believe this was a bad move on Microsoft’s part, and with just over 26% market share, some say it would have made more sense for them to use opportunities like this to wean off the remaining users from the outdated OS.

Contrary to what some believe, crossing over to Windows 8 isn’t that straightforward, especially in a large business environment. Firstly, you need to consider the cost of purchasing the software for every PC and/or laptop and then there’s the prospect of having to train a large number of individuals to use the OS. Not to mention, the cost of having to replace numerous machines incompatible with the newest Windows release. All in all, this is an operation that would demand a lot of attention and couldn’t simply be rushed into at any given moment. For this reason, it is far more sensible at this point for XP users to buy a license for Windows 8 and then to downgrade to Windows XP.

Hackers are able to take over people’s systems when victims accidentally click on a misleading link or an attachment (which is very easy to do nowadays). To avoid becoming a victim in similar cases you should always check for the following signs to determine whether the message you received is legitimate or not:

– Obvious spelling or grammar mistakes

– Emails from unknown sources or people

– Duplicates messages

In general, if you have any doubt in your mind then you should just delete the message or exit any sites containing harmful looking material.

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