Windows 7 Users Hit With Spike In Malware Attacks
By: Jim Stickley and Tina Davis
November 4, 2019
Webroot’s 2019 Threat Report: Mid-Year Update was recently released and it exposed some startling stats for Windows 7 users. It’s estimated Windows 7 is still being used by 34% of computer users despite the company announcing that as of 2020, it will no longer be supported. That means no updates, including security patches, will be available after that date. In the meantime, Webroot reports on growing security issues for Windows 7 users, including for the businesses who continue to use the platform.
According to the report, one in 50 URL’s are malicious, which isn’t good news for anyone but hackers. The report also found that 33% of Windows 7 users click on 25 work-related links per day. That’s a ton of malware out there looking for a home with Windows users and the fake URL’s they unknowingly follow.
The Webroot report helps identify trending cybercrime in an effort to boost public awareness of emerging security issues. The latest Threat Report exposes a disturbing trend involving a widely used business platform and the bogus URL’s it unknowingly perpetrates. The report finds Windows 7 systems are no stranger to malware, with more than 75% of it hiding in three main places: 11% in cache memory; 24% in application data; 41% in temporary files.
The good news is that businesses can prevent 50% of malware by stopping employees from opening apps using temporary and cache locations. It also finds email phishing with trusted but fake URL’s increased 400% from January to July 2019. Ensure all users know the clues to identifying phishing:
- A link or attachment is unexpected or comes from someone unknown.
- If the mouse hovers over a link, it doesn’t go where expected.
- There are typos and incorrect use of the language in the email message.
- It just doesn’t feel 100% safe to open it.
The increased malware attacks on Windows 7 users, including the increase in fake URL’s and a huge spike in phishing emails, paints a questionable picture as to why businesses continue using Windows 7. Even after the platform received its EOL (End of Life) deadline, reports from Webroot and others continue to find Windows 7 vulnerabilities. Overall, the Webroot report finds malware attacks on Windows 7 are increasing. It also found the number of internet providers hosting Windows exploits grew 75% since January of this year alone. In the study, out of all the infected PC’s running Windows 7, 36% were used for business and 64% were home devices.
Whatever the reason for not yet replacing Windows 7, in a few more months the EOL will be unavoidable. At that point, Microsoft will no longer fix security flaws or provide updates for Windows 7. That alone makes it difficult to continue using it, especially for businesses. For now, it may take cybersecurity policy in the workplace to keep staff from risky behavior, but regularly educating employees goes a long way toward safe and secure online hygiene. Since the war against cybercrime isn’t going away any time soon, a company investing in cyber education has a staff that is best prepared to continue the fight–no matter where the latest threats are coming from.