Windows XP Isn't Safe to Use Anymore. Here's What to Do Next.

After almost 13 years, Microsoft is ending support for Windows XP. That means that unless you are a major government, no further security updates or patches will be available for the operating system.

Despite Microsoft's best efforts to convince everyone to upgrade to a newer version of Windows, Windows XP is still running on nearly 28% of all computers connected to the Internet. That's a lot of computers — and users. So what can those users do now?

We've created a checklist:

Download the latest (and final) XP Update

The final "patch Tuesday" (Microsoft's term for security updates) for Windows XP was issued on April 8, 2014. Download the latest security updates. This is the last update Microsoft will issue.

Some major governments (including U.S. federal agencies) will continue to use XP — and UK and Dutch governments are even paying Microsoft to continue support, but everyone else is out of luck.

So download that final update. Now.

Install and update your anti-virus and anti-malware tools

With 30% market share, Microsoft knows it can't just cut support completely. The company has agreed to provide anti-malware updates to Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows XP until 2015.

Microsoft Security Essentials is free, but other security options are available — including suites from Kaspersky and others. One note: if you've got an old version of Norton or McAfee from 2003 that came bundled with your aging laptop, uninstall it and install Microsoft Security Essentials (or pay for Kaspersky). An out-of-date security app is basically like not having any security at all.

Use Firefox or Chrome

If you have to continue using Windows XP, make sure your web browser is at least being updated. Your web browser is often the place where most users wind up getting infected with a virus or malware.

The latest version of Internet Explorer isn't even available on Windows XP. If you're still using XP, you're probably using IE 8 — which is more than two versions old.

Instead, move to Firefox or Google Chrome. Mozilla and Google have committed to supporting XP for at least another year.

Prepare or begin your upgrade/migration plan

If you're still using Windows XP, it's probably for one of three reasons:

You have a laptop or desktop from before 2007 and XP is what works.

Change is hard, and upgrading costs money.

You have a very specific application that only works with XP, such as Microsoft Money.

Again, unless you happen to be a government institution that still uses XP for a very specific reason, you need to STOP USING WINDOWS XP. I cannot stress this enough. It's not just that the operating system is old and that there are security issues. It's not just that Microsoft has released three successors to XP. It's not just that new machines are more powerful, have better battery life or power efficiency, and are less expensive than ever before.It's that windows xp  is not safe to use.

Because XP is so old — and popular — its flaws are better known than most operating systems. Hackers have targeted Windows XP with aplomb for years — and that was while Microsoft was providing security patch support. Without that support, users are vulnerable.

So regardless of the reasons you're still using XP, start preparing to move to a new operating system right now.