Safety Off Old Laptop

[wrayperson]

Is it still safe to use laptop which is 9 years old and running Windows XP

[sunny-dave]

"It Depends".

If you never connect to the internet you are quite safe.

If you have an up-to-date antivirus program and use an anti-malware program on a regular basis, then you are almost entirely safe on the internet - particularly if you only go to mainstream websites and are careful about what you download.

If you go surfing around the Dark Web with no security in place you will get stuffed.

[beso]

Use Firefox as your browser. It has its own security certificate information.

Chrome and IE depend on security certificate information from Windows Update which no longer functions on XP.

[hc4361]

If you intend using it on the internet I would scrap XP and install a Linux operating system, Ubuntu, which costs nothing and is up to date.

[Old_Geezer]

You don't hear of them blowing up or catching fire too often

As others said, with regards to data security it depends on how up to date your AV is.

I'm unsure whether you would get a 'million' updates from MS immediately or whether existing ones are no longer available. I'd suspect a fair old time updating when you first connect to the Net.

Changing OS is all very well but one gets familiar with one, and you'd need confirmation your Windows programmes would run easily on a different OS.

I suspect you may be worrying too much.

[murraymints]

i still have xp on pc..have installed avast free and malwarbites..free version..no probs yet !

[Just-Jude]

It's liable to self destruct at any time!

[hc4361]

I don't want to bog the thread down with my Linux suggestion but it is very easy to download Ubuntu on to a flash drive or dvd and boot from that. It lets you use it on your pc without affecting XP and it will quickly highlight any conflicts with drivers, etc, although with a 9 year old pc there should be no trouble at all.

[TTG]

I second ^ Ubuntu is the way to go with a 9 year old laptop.

[hc4361]

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-your-own-Ubuntu-LiveUSB/

[wrayperson]

Thanks to all for help given. much appreciated...just-jade though ,if you can give no constructive advice then why bother to go on site?