Windows 7 attacks rise as XP falls
By Ashley Curtis
13/05/2011
Microsoft's newest operating system, Windows 7, was the target of hackers during the second half of 2010 as its malware infection rates climbed by more than 30 per cent, reports Computer World.
On the other hand, the infection rate of 10-year-old operating system XP has dropped by more than 20 per cent.
32-bit Windows 7 machines were infected at an average rate of over 4 PCs per 1,000, a 33 per cent increase over the approximately 3-per-1,000 infection rate during the first half of the year. 64-bit machines fared slightly better, clocking in at 2.5 per 1,000 during the whole of 2010.
According to SC Magazine, malware written for the unpopular Windows Vista platform also spiked.
Businesses should be aware that installing proper IT management systems in order to protect against malware and other harmful digital threats should keep the infectious malware at bay.
Jeff Williams, the principal group program manager with the Microsoft Malware Protection Center (MMPC), admitted that malware is spreading: "Infection rates have jumped [for Windows 7]. We attribute that to the increased presence of malicious software attacks out there."
However, Windows 7 and Vista are much less likely to be compromised by malware than XP due to stronger structural security.
