For Windows XP Service Pack 2 users

July’s patch release (blogged by Basant) marks the end of patching support for both Windows 2000 and Windows XP Service Pack 2. So, from now on there’ll be no security updates, hotfixes and other updates for Windows XP SP2, regardless of how serious a threat and newly discovered vulnerability may pose to users of this OS.

Apart from the base OS itself, Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, Outlook Express and other Windows XP SP2 components have also seen their last patches.

However, support for Windows Embedded XP SP2 (which is frequently used in ATMs and point of sale terminals) will extend until January 2011.

Microsoft advises all Windows XP SP2 users to upgrade to either Windows XP SP3 or preferably Windows 7. Win XP SP3 was released in April 2008 and will be supported until April 2014.