Microsoft issues last-chance warning to ditch XP

Users to receive notifications on their PCs telling them to upgrade

Microsoft is set to issue a final warning to users running Windows XP by rolling out a new notification across devices running the OS, urging them to ditch it before it is too late.

The software giant is ending support and updates for the 13-year-old operating system on 8 April this year and has been shouting about the risks of continuing to use to OS since the one-year countdown began last year.

In a last-ditch attempt to alert users to the dangers of running the OS, from this weekend Microsoft will notify every XP Professional or Home user in the form of an on-screen pop-up message. Users will be alerted to the end-of-support date and directed to the vendor's website, which gives further details on upgrading.

The vendor said that those continuing to run XP after the cut-off date next month expose themselves to a flurry of security risks.

On its XP migration website, Microsoft claims: "If you continue to use Windows XP after support ends, your computer will still work but it might become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses.

"An unsupported version of Windows will no longer receive software updates from Windows Update. These include security updates that can help protect your PC from harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software, which can steal your personal information."