Feel free to run XP if you like, OP. After all, you're in good company:
- UK Border Force
- NHS
- Several very large legacy airlines
- Eurocontrol
Firefox, Google Chrome and MS Security Essentials are all issuing updates / virus definitions for XP for the next couple of years.
Do not listen to a word of what he says, it's complete and utter rubbish.
(A) the large organisations have done deals with Microsoft to remain update and supported
(B) large companies and government have significant layered security that home users (and small businesses) do not have
(C) large companies and government have significant IT departments who know what thy are doing
(D) as I have said here a million bloody times .... I don't give a toss if third party software developers (whether anti-virus, web browsers or otherwise ) are issuing updates for THEIR software.
GET IT INTO YOUR HEADS THAT IF MICROSOFT ARE NOT UPDATING THE OPERATING SYSTEM THEN ALL SOFTWARE RUNNING ON IT IS NOT SECURE BECAUSE IT BECOMES TRIVIAL TO EXPLOIT THE OPERATING SYSTEM AND ITS DEVELOPER APIs ... THUS RENDERING ANY THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE SECURITY CLAIMS OBSOLETE
And yes, that third-party software developer statement includes any Microsoft products that run on top of the operating system (e.g. Office and Security Essentials).
Furthermore, the more time progresses, the exponentially more trivial it will become to exploit the underlying operating system and its developer APIs.
All of the above are black and white hard facts. They are not debatable or open to alternative interpretations. They are the hard facts. Anyone telling you otherwise is not telling the truth.
Running XP is NOT an option.