Despite being retired from official support through Microsoft, Windows XP still lives. By now, it should be old news that regular bug fixes and patches are no longer standard issue for computers that still run the aging operating system. But a large segment of the population who was unable to upgrade in time – including the IRS – still has yet to make the transition brought on for many others by the April 18 cutoff date.
Microsoft begged with the public to consider changing, offering incentives for investing in new hardware and a more modern version of Windows. The company felt that the OS was obsolete, and maintaining it would just waste resources moving forward. As such, the concern was that those who did not switch over would be more susceptible to cyberattacks and malicious software. The logic was that hackers would learn from future updates to systems like Windows 7 and Vista and look for the same vulnerabilities in XP.
Only now, Microsoft is finding that systems still running XP are less likely to be infected with malware than their successors.
Vista, Windows 7 have highest malware infection rates
The biannual Microsoft Security Intelligence Report found that there was a diminished chance of a Windows XP machine being affected by malware when compared to some more recent systems. Specifically, Windows Vista was found to be the most prone to infection with a rate of 3.24 percent. Second in line was Windows 7 at 2.59 percent. Windows XP actually came in third with 2.24 percent, meaning that – aside from Windows 8 and 8.1 – it was the least likely to be compromised by malware.
This is an ironic development given how much gloom and doom surrounded the once-looming end of support date for XP. There was little concern surrounding Windows 7 and Vista because they continue to receive updates.
Computer security is essential, regardless of system
One of the reasons that XP users might be experiencing lower malware rates is because, lacking support from Microsoft, they must actively do more to maintain their computers. No matter what OS might be in place, it is essential that people take the steps that they need to in order to ensure proper protection.
By using Faronics Deep Freeze, users will be able to effortlessly restore their computers without losing valuable files and settings with a simple reboot. Rebooting can effectively solve a vast majority of problems, making Deep Freeze a versatile asset to any PC or Mac owner.
