The source code for Windows XP with Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Windows Server 2003 has allegedly leaked online, alongside snippets of code for other outdated Microsoft platforms like MS-DOS and Windows CE.
“We are investigating the matter,” a Microsoft statement notes of the incident.
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This isn’t the first time Windows source code has leaked online: Full or partial source code dumps for Windows NT 3.5, Windows 2000, and Windows 10 have leaked at different times in the past, as has the source code for the OS for the original Xbox console and the Xbox Series X graphics system.
Microsoft hasn’t supported Windows XP in over 6 years, and the system is now so out-of-date that it’s unlikely, but not impossible, that hackers could use the code to find vulnerabilities in modern and supported versions of Windows.
And here’s a fun tidbit: The Verge has uncovered an early and unreleased theme for Windows XP, called Candy, that (badly) emulated the Mac OS X “Aqua” look and feel.
topbuzzer
<blockquote><em><a href="#579603">In reply to oscar1:</a></em></blockquote><p>Yaa but who uses windows xp right now, that's what Microsoft though and loosen the security maybe</p>
topbuzzer
<p>Who use Windows xp anyway. It's pretty old now. But do you think windows xp code is that much important as it's pretty old and I don't think by getting windows xp codes anyone anything with the latest version of Windows. </p>