New Delhi: The ATMs (automated teller machines) may face security risk as Microsoft Corp ends support for its Windows XP next month. The software firm said a number of ATMs are yet to be upgraded.
The number of ATMs using Windows XP is higher compared to 16 percent of PCs (personal computers) which need upgradation.
Notify that the US-based firm had said its PC install base for large enterprises in India is about 4 million units, of which around 84 percent have migrated from Windows XP last month.
Windows XP has been launched in October 2001 and is three generations behind the latest operating system Windows 8 that was launched in October 2012. The current XP version is called Windows XP Service Pack 3 and Microsoft will stop support service to Windows XP from 8 April.
Microsoft India general manager (Windows business) Amrish Goyal said, “The number of ATMs left on Windows XP are higher than PCs as a percentage. Many more ATMs, probably higher than the 35 percent computers in banks and financial institutions that are still to be upgraded and these (ATMs) are not included in those 4 million computers.”
He also said, there are roughly about 100,000 ATMs in India and many of them are running on Windows XP. They have the same support policy and will be out of support, something which Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines has also called out.
Meanwhile Indian Banks Association (IBA) chief executive MV Tanksale said that only old ATMs may face some problem as all the newer machines run on newer platforms. Tanksale said he does not have the data of such machines which are still running on Windows XP.
Meanwhile RBI warned that banking operations, including ATM services, may be hit as support from Microsoft for Windows XP operating system will end from 8 April.
RBI in a circular to bank, said, “The probability of attacks on such a system may increase and it may be difficult to defend such attacks in the absence of Microsoft support.”
Goyal said banks and financial institutions are facing higher risk compared to other sectors.
He also said, “Banks and financial institutions are slow in upgrading from Windows XP. Private banks are little bit better. They are more equal to the average of the industry that is around 84 per cent. It is public sector banks and financial institutions that are still lagging.”
Only 65% computers have been upgraded from OS (operating system) of the total number of computers in banks and financial institutions that use Windows XP, said Goyal.
Tanksale added, “Banks are definitely well prepared and the industry is seized of the matter. I am very sure that you will not see a problem where ATMs or bank counters are shut because of this.”
Bureau Report
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