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Those still using Windows XP may have reason to be concerned, as the source code for the operating system was recently published at 4chan, informed Gizmodo. It was posted on the site with the caption: “muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuAuuAuAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
RELATED: PUTIN STILL USES WINDOWS XP AND IT SEEMS IT DON’T GIVE HIM A CURSE
Then independent investigators began investigating the code and found it to be legitimate. This is very worrying for the 1.26% of computer users who still have Windows XP worldwide (including Vladimir Putin) and the problem can extend to other operating systems.
Windows XP SP1 source code leak seems quite legitimate
Thanks to @RoninDey to be confirmed https://t.co/A2Ap1fKX5x
– Greg Linares (@Laughing_Mantis) September 24, 2020
While this recent event can be used for positive purposes (such as people using it to create their own variations of Windows XP that may run originally unsupported software), it can also be used for dangerous and nefarious purposes. Why?
Because source code can be used to find an exploit to hack computers. Worse still, since all Windows operating systems share code to some degree, any exploits discovered in XP can also be used to crack other operating systems such as Windows 10.
What is a ‘source code’?
We will explain it from the beginning. A source code is essentially like a recipe for your favorite food. Although you enjoy all the benefits of your favorite food, unless you have the recipe, you will not be able to prepare it yourself.
If you discover their recipe, you could redesign it to make it more to your liking. That is what some people can do with source code. For example, they could use it to make Windows XP compatible with Mac.
However, discovering a source code can also be compared to knowing, for example, how a house works. Say someone wanted to rob you, it would help if they knew what time you would leave the house unguarded. A source code provides the equivalent of that information.
That is why you should update as soon as possible. Even if the source code isn’t accurate, Microsoft hasn’t supported XP in over five years, making it more vulnerable to vulnerabilities. There you go! Time for an update!
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