Antimalware, firewall, and other security programs for Windows XP working in 2023 and hopefully beyond

[Dave-H]

On 7/16/2026 at 3:36 PM, AstroSkipper said:

@Dave-H As you haven’t said anything about the suggestion I put forward so far, I’d like to know whether that’s an option for you, or whether limiting the online updates isn’t an option. You can always restore the cache folder once Panda support gets back to you, though I don’t really expect that to happen. 

Sorry for the delay in responding again.
Nothing has changed since my last report, the program is working, with my folder exclusions applied, with only occasional stops and restarts of the main Panda service.
I can live with that in the short term.
I'm still hoping, of course, that a fix will be applied and it will all come good again.
Nobody has any definite evidence that Panda have deliberately stopped their XP version from working properly, only speculation.
I will wait a while and ring AnyTech365 again if I've heard nothing from them about this.
They will be as anxious as I am to get an answer from the Panda developers about this, I'm sure, as they will need to be able to give accurate support information to anyone else asking about this problem! Assuming that they do have a direct channel of communication to them, and it would be pretty stupid if they didn't, hopefully it won't be too long a wait for an answer, one way or the other.

 

[AstroSkipper]

How to secure Windows XP in 2026 - A multi-layered security strategy

It is now July 2026. Since Panda Security – either unintentionally or perhaps deliberately – rendered its Panda Dome programme unusable on Windows XP from 2 July onwards due to faulty automatic updates, there are, in practical terms, hardly any anti-malware programmes with real-time protection left for this operating system supported by both programme and definition updates. Almost all well-known manufacturers of antivirus and antimalware programmes have discontinued support for Windows XP over the years.

It is therefore of the utmost importance, first and foremost, to persuade Panda to correct its update routine on the server side. Windows XP enthusiasts can exert considerable influence here by reporting all issues with Panda Dome to the support team. Only if many people do this is there a realistic chance that anything might change in this regard yet. I really shouldn’t care, since I'm actually done with Panda. 

In any case, Windows XP users must realise that comprehensive security suites, as they used to be, practically no longer exist. System protection must therefore be organised differently. You have to build and organise it yourself using various tools that must work together harmoniously. Layer by layer, so to speak.

What do you need for a secure Windows XP system?

1. Windows XP SP3 with all essential components and available updates.
2. Backup system: A fully functional backup system that regularly creates partition images.
3. Firewall: A very good firewall that monitors all network traffic, including all incoming and outgoing connections, even those from Windows XP system components.
4. Real-time protection: A programme that runs in memory, detects and reports threats.
5. Process manager: Located in the taskbar.
6. Startup manager: A good startup manager.
7. On-demand scanners: One, or better still several, good on-demand scanners with a disinfection feature.
8. Browser: An up-to-date browser with an ad blocker.
9. Certificates: Up-to-date root certificates.
10. And, of course, common sense.

And if anyone now claims that this is impossible, I’ll respond directly: I’ve configured my Windows XP system exactly like this and haven’t had a single infection in 25 years. Windows XP is still my main operating system alongside Android.

Cheers, AstroSkipper 

Edited 19 hours ago by AstroSkipper

[AstroSkipper]

In addition to the previous article, I have updated all lists in the second, third and fourth post of this thread to the most recent facts.

Edited 19 hours ago by AstroSkipper

[AstroSkipper]

Update notification! 

Malware Hunter has been again updated on 20.07.2026 and is now available in version 1.219.0.863. It is still listed to be compatible with Windows XP. Accordingly, I will update my article to this version. Tests can be done by the users.

Cheers, AstroSkipper 

[AstroSkipper]

@VistaLover The posts about Comodo Antivirus were simply intended to inform Windows XP users that there is still a perfect alternative available. However, Comodo had not deemed it necessary to release an official, static link to the final installer for Windows XP/Vista when it discontinued support for these operating systems.  Having learnt from my experience of reviving Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free/Pro 1.75.0.1300 — regarding the updating of its definitions – I have drawn my own conclusions. I never make the same mistake twice. The Windows XP haters of this world will get no further fuel from me.  I will do nothing that might prompt Comodo to pull the plug, as Malwarebytes did back then, even if my fix doesn't modify or patch any Comodo related files and only restores the state that the online update function was actually supposed to carry out. One thing is clear. A cursory search for this installer will get you presumably nowhere; you’ll need to dig a bit deeper in the case of Comodo. However, success is not guaranteed as Comodo generally replaces previous installers with more current ones.  Whatever the rules may be.  Very often installers are then still advertised to be compatible but they aren't any longer. If you can’t find anything, alternatively, you could make do with the installer of the previous version which is still available. The online update is not essential, as you can update Comodo's definitions offline at any time. The main programme and the VirusScope recognizer DLL files will no longer be updated online anyways, due to the change from SHA-1 to SHA-512 signature. These DLL files can only be updated manually by newer, compatible ones, if any are found, of course. I only restored the online update functionality to see, if it is possible, and due to the fact that I can do such things. It’s just the way I am. 

Regards, AstroSkipper 

Edited 15 hours ago by AstroSkipper

[Tangy]

@Dave-H Panda 22 has been installed.

Items added to exclusions

start menu, SendTo, Recent, as you suggested. I also included Microsoft Office as well as system explorer ( task manager no connection to internet)

So far it has been working as prior to 2nd of July.

I' ll monitor the situation and report back.

[Dave-H]

Thanks!

I've now simplified my exclusions by simply excluding all files with the LNK extension from scanning.
As the folders I had excluded were all full of shortcuts, I thought this was more elegant and it still seems to work.

I'm still getting occasional stops and restarts of the main Panda service, but it is usable.
All the Panda functions seem to be working fine when the service is running.