More than a quarter of corporations still run Windows 95 and Windows 98, eight and five years after launch, having resisted more recent operating system releases of Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
And 80% have a minimum of one PC running at least one instance of Windows 95 or Windows 98, according to a report by IT infrastructure analyst AssetMatrix. The analyst surveyed 670 corporations representing 372,129 PCs when compiling the document.
Users, though, are about to leave themselves open to attack across the Internet from hackers and viruses, AssetMatrix warned, as Microsoft’s era of Hotfix security support for both operating systems draws closer.
As of January 16 2004, extended Hotfix security support for Microsoft will be ended and Windows 98 officially regarded as obsolete. Support for the older Windows 95 ends on December 31.
Companies… should immediately evaluate strategies to retire all installations of Internet-facing Windows 98, AssetMatrix’s report said of the later operating system.
Microsoft last week cited a January 2001 legal agreement with Sun Microsystems Inc over licensing of Java for its decision to stop download availability of Windows 98 from its Developer Network this month.
The news, though, coincided with January’s end of extended security support for the operating system.
Other products whose security support is also due to expire next month include Office 97. Despite releases of Office 98, Office XP and Office 2003, Office 97 still accounts for 30% of the installation base. Analysts believe customers are happy with the suite’s functionality, which meets all their needs.
AssetMatrix says organizations’ adherence to Windows 9X has been based on their choice of hardware. Budgetary constraints mean IT directors have held onto PCs purchased before and during the Y2K move. In doing, they have retained the older operating system, rather than upgrade to either Windows 2000 or Windows XP on PCs.
Interoperability between Win9X and WinNT operating systems, like Windows 2000, has also meant there is no technological pressure to upgrade.
However, AssetMatrix said with Windows 9X support about to end, customers should take immediate action. The company, which provides system auditing, recommends organizations identify any Internet-facing PCs that run Windows 98 as candidates for either Windows 2000 or XP. Organizations should also ensure Microsoft’s latest security Hotfixes have been applied to machines, AssetMatrix said.
This article is based on material originally produced by ComputerWire.
