Officially, Microsoft stopped releasing automatic public updates for Windows XP over a month ago after over 12 years. Now a registry hack has been found that, when placed in the OS, allows it to continue receiving updates. By making a few changes in the registry of XP, the hack basically tricks the automatic update servers at Microsoft into thinking the OS is Windows Embedded POSReady 2009.

The OS is based on Windows XP Service Pack 3 and it will continue to get security updates from Microsoft until April 2019. 

Now Microsoft is publicly warning folks against using this method to update their machines. Microsoft has released a statement to ZDnet warning users to not use this hack. The company says this will likely do more harm than good.

The security updates that could be installed are intended for Windows Embedded and Windows Server 2003 customers and do not fully protect Windows XP customers. Windows XP customers also run a significant risk of functionality issues with their machines if they install these updates, as they are not tested against Windows XP.

We have some instructions on the topic here.