content: I came here to say this. Regardless of where your politics lie. Microsoft ended all support for Windows XP and allowed for specialized and very expensive extended support for Windows Server  2003 which has the same equivalent architecture and runtimes. Microsoft built a patch possibly way earlier because someone with that extended support requested a hotfix for it, or they internally noticed it and released a patch. Think of it like a Toyota ot a Honda. Back in 2002, 15 years ago, there parts in any auto store for your car. It was profitable for the mechanics and the manufacturer to know how to fix your car, and have replacement parts on hand to fix it. Now it's more expensive to fix your car constantly. Some people keep their cars as long as they can, most trade them away and get something​ new and shiny.  Microsoft released a fix for free for all of it's cars, even ones not in manufacture any longer as soon as possible. You can even get it if you pirate your OS.  Regardless of how you feel about their politics. What they did as a company in this instance deserves nothing but respect.