[josefx]

> Being on the latest secure upstream isn't a nicety, it's what you have to do if you want any semblance of a secure environment.

Windows 7 is in extended support to 2020. So as far as I know security wise still up to date.

> There's a grocery store that just went up nearby that I saw Windows XP splash screen on when one of the cashiers rebooted.

The cash register may be even running with a user interface written in VB6. Don't attach it to an external network and it will work just fine. No need to invest in new hardware/software when you can get it old, working and cheap.

> Windows XP computers that handle money.

In what way do they handle money? A computer virus isn't going to steal paper money and the device operating the card reader should have been sufficiently separated to begin with.

[dotancohen]

Do you really think that the machine does not handle credit cards a well? Provide a daily management report? Report inventory? Provide a Facebook interface between customers via the big blue E icon?

[josefx]

> Do you really think that the machine does not handle credit cards a well?

I don't know about the U.S., but as far as I know were I live these card readers have to be almost completely separate systems. The connection between these two should only exist to a) set the price to pay and b) confirm that a payment was made.

> Provide a daily management report? Report inventory?

No longer managing money directly, so the possible abuse for financial gain is quite restricted. You could argue that someone manipulates the reports in order to skim some money for himself, however that would be a rather targeted attack with someone on the inside profiting and could be detected when the physical goods no longer line up with the reported values.

> Provide a Facebook interface between customers via the big blue E icon?

Are we even talking about the same thing?