Windows 10: Upgrade already! If you're still using XP, you're a menace to Society

Shouldn't affect anyone using their private jet or helicopter to get from A to B *Smile

 

So as I understand it, the ransomware is transmitted via email. Eh?
So, what kind of a boob would have a system doing Point of Sale work, or storing critical medical records that is left open to the internet, and receiving email, of all things?
If any company wants their people to have email access, then they should have a separate system just for that purpose. And, even that system should be backed up repeatedly, so in case of a HD crash or virus infection, the system can be purged and restored to a previous time when it was clean.

I've worked on many LARGE computer systems, that were backed up every night. And multiple backups were stored in a fireproof vault, for up to a month. And every one of those systems was closed to the internet.

I was somewhat surprised just a while back when the VA upgraded their OS from Windows XP to Windows 7, even though 8.1 was already out and ten was on its way.
It's like when the computer on the Hubble Telescope was upgraded from a 386 cpu to a 486 cpu. Talk about being behind the times!

Y'all have a great day now, and safe computing.

*Cool

 

All of this makes me pine for XP.

If only I had an x64 copy of XP. I could load it onto the desktop that I just retired. It's an x64 with 8 GB RAM, so I'd need x64 XP to take full advantage.

It was running Win 7, and it's way high spec for XP. I'll bet it would run XP like blazes.

 

A quick search with google with terms like Xp Sp3 64-bit iso will get you there. I cannot say if those downloads are legal or safe - I would have doubts.

If you have a valid product key you can test it out - but do you really want to?

 

The problem is, that if those vulnerable systems are on the same network, they can be infected without anyone having run the exploit on them.

For instance, a user with a fully patched version of Windows 10 might open the attachment, and then it would spread to vulnerable machines simply by connecting to the file sharing port on those computers and executing specially crafted code.

Having said that, even the users machine, fully patched can still have their files encrypted by executing an attachment. If you can read and change the files as a normal user, anything you run as that user can also do that.

 

Actually though, it appears the worm never even functioned on XP.
Over 98% of All WannaCry Victims Were Using Windows 7

 

This thread should perhaps be re-titled to address those findings? *Smile

 

If you're using XP, you've missed out on 16 year's of hardware development.

 

Mission critical systems Must be isolated completely, or at least to a separate network, from the general use system, this is a basic system essential.

You can still allow remote access for technicians to critical equipment, that is why we have On Demand Temporary Encrypted Virtual Private networks. We are no longer living in a world where systems developed for threats present many years ago, even if patched, can be left accessible to the outside world.

I do have to disagree with the author's statement on the limit for TL;DR as being 300 Words, I thought everyone realised that this limit is nearer to 140 characters, or a couple of selfies with a comment *Wink