The largest potential risk to corporations is the probability of an Internet-based security exploit being discovered after January 2004 that can affect a Win9X PC.
Typically, security exploits �due to a code issue within the Operating System and/or the Internet Browser � are reviewed and remedied by Microsoft via their monthly hotfix releases. After January 2004, Microsoft is no longer obligated to supply any security based Hotfixes for Windows 98 users.
Thus, Windows 98 users become increasingly prone to any new security exploits, as security patches may not be supplied. Virus authors & hackers will certainly view any Windows 98 PC as a more vulnerable entry-point into the network infrastructure, being able to exploit security holes that have been subsequently �patched� on PCs with Windows 2000, Windows XP, etc.
As time progresses � and the number of security exploits increases � any Internet-facing Windows 98 PC increases its vulnerability �and opportunity - to attack.
After that the analysis goes into reasons why its a good idea for microsoft to stop supporting old software..
And then says that about 30% of machines are running win 95/98 with more 95 machines than 98.
So if you were a systems administrator with 100 pcs and you needed to upgrade them all to windows 2000 or XP..
1. Why would your company pay for all those licences when their machines 'already work', and pay you to spend the next 3 - 6 months updating machines applying patches ...
2. Wouldn't you have to reinstall all the software too after doing the os upgrade.. how long would it take per machine?
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