Wondering how serious the malware problem is?according to a study Atlas VPNthe number of malware threats reached a staggering 62.29 million in the first three quarters of 2022, an average of about 228,164 malware threats per day.
However, there is some good news; malware threats are down nearly 34% from last year. Malware threats declined steadily quarter-over-quarter over time, with cases down 4 percent in the first and second quarters and a further 14 percent in the second and third quarters.
Windows users are still on edge as Windows wins the unwelcome honor of being the most malware-prone operating system in 2022.
Read on to protect yourself from malware on Windows.
(Fox News)
Most targeted award goes to Windows
according to Atlas VPN, with 59.8 million malware samples detected on Windows operating systems in the first three quarters of 2022. This accounts for approximately 95.6% of all malware cases detected during the same period.
Malware detections that lag far behind Windows over the same period are:
- Linux – 1.76 malware samples detected
- Android – 938,379 malware samples detected
- macOS – 8,329 malware samples detected.
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Windows users may be vulnerable to certain malware.
(Fox News)
Why Windows Is So Vulnerable to Malware
The simplest answer to this question is that Windows is by far the most used operating system on devices worldwide; therefore, from an efficiency standpoint alone, Windows is the operating system most vulnerable to bad guys. Additionally, with so many devices running Windows around the world, the number of infected systems can quickly become large when malware spreads.
Additionally, Windows users are more likely to inadvertently download malware onto their devices when they install applications from the internet. This is because Windows users must download applications through a standard internet browser in most cases, and this connection is more vulnerable than an operating system like the Mac that has a dedicated and secure app download repository.
If you want to understand from a more technical point of view, please read on.
From the very beginning (long before we all had easy access to the internet), Windows was designed to be used by only one user per device, which meant that the ability to password protect multiple user accounts like we do now didn’t Built into the system its original framework. As a result, from the beginning, Windows was built without key security measures, including proper user accounts and restricted file permissions protecting important system components. Even today, Windows does employ a multi-user framework (i.e. multiple accounts with separate passwords), but it never had a firewall built into the operational framework.
This means that unless Windows users purchase third-party security software and set it up properly, their Windows systems will still be vulnerable to the bad guys once connected to the Internet.
HOW YOUR IPHONE OR ANDROID PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN 24/7
How can I protect myself from malware
Malware infects your device and network in a variety of physical and virtual ways. However, there are several steps that can be taken to stay one step ahead of hackers.
1. Keep your device software up to date
To make sure your iPhone is up to date:
- Go to the Apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen
- Click “About This Mac”
- Click the “Software Update” button
- Click “Update Now”.
To make sure your Android is up to date:
- Click on the Settings app
- Scroll to the bottom and click on System
- Click System Update. If an update is available, it will display “Updates Available”. Click on it and follow the prompts to install it on your device.
2. Lock down your technology
My greatest wish is to educate and inform you of the increasing real threats to each of our connected devices, and to encourage you to use strong antivirus security for everything in your life that is connected to the rest of the world. The best way to protect yourself is to install antivirus software on your device.
Search CyberGuy.com for “best antivirus” to see my expert reviews of the best antivirus protection for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
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Here’s how to protect your privacy.
(Fox News)
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