How To Maintain Security On Outdated Systems
Sometimes our old systems still meet our needs without issue, but how do we keep them safe?
If you have a tired old netbook lurking in your attic, or an antiquated Linux server in your office’s IT room, you’re not alone. Outdated computer systems are all around us – and often in the most unexpected settings.
For Example
The US Defense Department is still storing some of its nuclear messages on eight-inch floppy discs from the 1970s, while a 2014 survey of 35 NHS trusts in England revealed every single one was using Windows XP despite the imminent withdrawal of manufacturer support. The UK government had to negotiate a special support extension with Microsoft, to keep the health service running while more modern versions of Windows were installed.
Oldie But Goodie
There are many reasons why companies are reluctant to upgrade existing technology. For example, software upgrades can incur considerable costs. Embittered by previous botched upgrades and glitchy ‘improvements’, some people soldier on with solutions they know and trust. Aso, software has gradually become more complex compared to the 1980s.
Back then program code could be interrupted and tinkered with at will, removing the ability to troubleshoot technical gremlins. Traditionalists sometimes retain a degree of reticence about modern cloud-hosted solutions. There’s also the opening-bridge scenario, where people allow so much time to elapse that updating their (increasingly antiquated) system gradually becomes impossible. At this stage, a full rebuild may be the only solution.
Yeah, But Are They Secure?
Most importantly, of course, obsolete systems will also possess out-of-date security – if they have any at all. Today’s blizzard of passwords, PINs and digital keys can be frustrating, but each 2FA login or time-limited access code is intended to keep our data safe. A 386 PC running MS-DOS won’t take much hacking, assuming its rudimentary password-protection system was ever enabled in the first place. And assuming the password wasn’t either ‘1234’ or ‘password’.
Nor is this a problem exclusive to hardware. Web browsers provide a good example of technology that requires regular updating, and someone attempting to run version 42 of Firefox will be exposed to various security flaws that have been addressed in the latest version (49). Older web browsers will have greater susceptibility to malicious websites that can cause infections or harvest sensitive data, as well as lacking compatibility with the latest site design and coding. These sites may download more slowly or simply not display at all, which is particularly pertinent for anyone clinging doggedly to IE8 or one of its ancestors.
Security Solutions
There will be major issues installing modern software on old-fashioned machines, particularly if their OS has become obsolete. Sometimes the software will still work, though it’s more likely to be glitchy or simply refuse to install. Cloud-hosted software generally dates from this decade, so an unmodernized 2000s machine may struggle with modern cloud-based programs and applications. Programmers rarely target cutting-edge machines, instead appealing to the widest possible audience – which doesn’t include a Windows 2003-powered desktop running Netscape Navigator.
Or Not…
Avoiding these security issues is effectively a matter of good housekeeping. There’s no need to constantly update software, but pay attention to the phasing out of aftermarket support for key drivers or your OS. Set web browsers to automatically update, and grant the same privileges to an antivirus package for real-time threat resolution. Even if you’re clinging onto outmoded hardware, ensure any web browsers are modern and capable of identifying unsafe sites. Finally, don’t allow silos of data to build up that can’t be transferred elsewhere – many antique computers are being kept on life support for this reason alone…