That is the threat facing many Windows 98 users, effective immediately. Tomorrow Microsoft will officially end support for their Windows 98 product. Users still running Windows 98 will be left out in the cold when if comes to new product updates that keep their computers secure. Between Windows 98 and Windows ME, this affects over 60 million people.

While it is still technically possible to keep a Windows 98 product secure without additional product updates, this is a task that only advanced users will be able to complete. Securing Windows 98 computers in the future will require users to keep abreast of new security risks, find 3rd party patches, or create their own workarounds. If this sounds like too much, your best solution is to upgrade your operating system. Continuing to use Windows 98 and Windows ME operating systems to access financial data online will from this day forward pose a significant and increasing risk to sensitive personal data and other information.

This news comes as a blow to people who are comfortably using Windows 98 on computers with technical specifications below the recommended standard for a Windows XP upgrade. These people must not only pay to upgrade their operating system but their hardware as well. To make matters worse, Microsoft plans to release Windows Vista at the beginning of 2007. If you upgrade to Windows XP now, you’ll soon be facing pressures to upgrade to Windows Vista.

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