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Windows XP Has Twice the Infections of Windows 7

By - Source: Microsoft

Microsoft released the latest edition of its Security Intelligence Report (SIR), which covers malware trends for the first half of this year.

According to the statistics released, Windows XP computers showed nearly twice the infection rate of Windows 7 systems. Of every 1,000 computers scanned, 9.5 XP computers with SP3 revealed a malware infection, while the number dropped to 4.9 and 5.1 for Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), 5.3 and 4.3 for Windows 7 RTM, and 4.9 and 3.1 for Windows 7 SP1. The data also revealed an increased infection rate for Windows XP and Windows 7, Windows Vista with SP2 is declining and actually shows lower infection rates than Windows 7.

According to the latest SIR, the most common malware on Windows computers was the worm Win32/Autorun with a share of 11.3 percent in the first half of the year, followed by JS/Pornpo Adware (8.0 percent), Win32/Obfuscator (7.3 percent), the Balcole exploit (6.2 percent), and the Win32/Dorkbot Worm (6.3 percent).

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There are 38 Comments.
Top Comments
  • 12
    Pinhedd , October 11, 2012 10:53 PM
    9.5 is a little over three times 3.1
  • 10
    luciferano , October 11, 2012 10:56 PM
    XP is more than ten years old and most computers running it simply don't have modern malware protection (if any at all) and most users who know what they're doing are using something newer.
  • 14
    Northwestern , October 11, 2012 10:58 PM
    This isn't surprising. Windows XP is 11 years old compared to the 6 year old Windows Vista and 3 year old Windows 7. After XP had to lead Windows through the second half of the last decade due to Vista's complications, it was continued to be targeted by malware.

    This will quickly drop as Windows 7 is finally overtaking the aging XP. R.I.P. One of the best Windows OSes.
Other Comments
  • 14
    Northwestern , October 11, 2012 10:58 PM
    This isn't surprising. Windows XP is 11 years old compared to the 6 year old Windows Vista and 3 year old Windows 7. After XP had to lead Windows through the second half of the last decade due to Vista's complications, it was continued to be targeted by malware.

    This will quickly drop as Windows 7 is finally overtaking the aging XP. R.I.P. One of the best Windows OSes.
  • 12
    Pinhedd , October 11, 2012 10:53 PM
    9.5 is a little over three times 3.1
  • 10
    luciferano , October 11, 2012 10:56 PM
    XP is more than ten years old and most computers running it simply don't have modern malware protection (if any at all) and most users who know what they're doing are using something newer.
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