Vladimir Putin’s Computer Is Still Running on 18-year-old Windows XP, Report Says

A Russian information web site has claimed that President Vladimir Putin continues to be utilizing a discontinued working system on his workplace laptop, software program which can be technically banned for Russian authorities officers.

Open Information reported Monday that the president continues to be utilizing Home windows XP and Workplace 2003 on his laptop, which Microsoft largely stopped updating in April 2014.

Open Media mentioned Home windows XP is in use on Putin’s workplace desktop laptop and the machine at his Novo-Ogaryovo official residence west of Moscow. The web site cited Kremlin press service images printed this fall as proof for the conclusion.

The Moscow Occasions famous that Russian officers are supposedly not allowed to make use of international software program. That is a part of Moscow’s push to decouple from international methods to strengthen state safety and construct a budding technological sector.

Open Information linked to Protection Ministry paperwork exhibiting that Home windows XP was the final Microsoft working system authorized for presidency use. Home windows 10 can be licensed, although just for computer systems that don’t retailer state secrets and techniques.

The Russian authorities mentioned in 2015 that it meant to exchange all Microsoft and Apple software program with home methods by 2030, with the switchover starting from 2025.

However The Moscow Occasions famous that the method has suffered delays. Putin’s presidential workplace reportedly postponed switchover plans final 12 months after the event new Russian working system fell delayed.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov didn’t clarify to Open Information why Putin seems to be utilizing previous Home windows software program. Newsweek has contacted the Russian authorities to ask for clarification on the Open Information report.

Putin is notably technology-averse, refusing to make use of smartphones and remaining skeptical of the web. The president seems to depend on extra conventional types of communication, although prompted derision when noticed utilizing a chunky cellular phone in 2010.

Although he might not personally indulge, Putin is nicely conscious of the ability of recent expertise. Earlier this month, the federal government launched laws banning the sale of any smartphone that doesn’t use Russian-made software program and apps. The brand new legislation will come into power in July 2020.

The strongman chief has additionally moved to insulate Russia from the web. In April Putin launched measures that may permit his authorities to chop the nation off from international servers, severing Russia from the remainder of the world at any time when the Kremlin deems it mandatory. The measures got here into power in November.

Dubbed a “sovereign web” invoice by loyalist Russian media, critics mentioned the transfer would permit Putin to strengthen his authoritarian management over the nation and make it simpler for the federal government to censor the web for residents.