Both answers given say it, but I don't consider them clear enough. This lead me to add an answer of my own, just to clarify things.
Microsoft stopped providing updates for Windows XP since april 1st 2014. The updates excluded are security hotfixes for Windows XP
and updates to Microsoft Security Essentials
.
The Windows Update functionality won't stop, but no updates that fix security leaks in Windows XP will be patched, meaning that the longer you use Windows XP the bigger the chances are that your pc becomes infected with spyware and a hacker can take over your pc installing randsomware and other crap.
Especially old pc's had a problem because updating to a newer OS meant that it just would not be possible due to the performance. Luckily, since the recent Windows 8.1 update, if you install Windows 8.1 32 bit (given that you have less than 4 GB of ram) it will actually perform better than Windows XP will. I experienced this first hand myself when I was forced to update my old pc. Not to mention that a full install of Windows 8.1 requires less free diskspace than Windows XP does.
@JourneymanGeek, Which "leading VFX" company are you at?
– Pacerier – 2015-04-12T18:04:22.830Place called double negative. – Journeyman Geek – 2015-04-12T23:31:15.843
1The notice I received from Microsoft said that although they are no longer providing updates for Windows XP, they are going to continue to provide security updates. – L.B. – 2014-05-25T01:58:04.220
9The real question is why you are still using Windows XP? – Cole Johnson – 2014-05-25T21:32:41.537
If a malicious program was trying to trick you into installing their software, it wouldn't look like a native window. If it was a native window, why would the malware bother asking you to install their software? – Cole Johnson – 2014-05-25T21:33:59.007
3@ColeJohnson I agree that malware wouldn't ask for permission to install but the idea that malware doesn't try to look like native windows is dangerously wrong. It does try to look like native windows, to mislead people into using it, just like phishing emails try to look like actual emails from eBay/PapPal/your bank. – David Richerby – 2014-05-26T12:33:45.950
@ColeJohnson, The real question is why there are still tons of people using Windows XP... http://gs.statcounter.com/press/less-than-a-week-to-go-and-xp-remains-worlds-second-most-popular-operating-system
– Pacerier – 2014-05-27T11:56:36.677All 4 of those updates are for other Microsoft products. Microsoft before the April date say WMSRT updates would continue. – Ramhound – 2014-05-27T23:04:12.830
1I'm still getting those updates as well on my dad's XP system - I'd guess OS updates are gone, but stuff like .net will keep being updated – Journeyman Geek – 2014-06-18T11:14:13.433