Cybersecurity firms able to offer service to 350m users of system

Chinese Internet firms have stepped up to offer security support to hundreds of millions of Windows XP users in China after Microsoft Corp stopped providing technical assistance for the 13-year-old operating system on Tuesday, a move that may serve as growth catalyst for China's nascent cybersecurity market.

Tencent Holdings Ltd, China's largest Internet company by market capitalization, announced on Tuesday that it has strengthened its ties with Microsoft, offering free security support to Chinese Windows XP users through its own anti-virus and security service unit, Tencent Computer Housekeeper.