Windows 7 vulnerable to 80% of viruses
- Tue, 3 Nov 2009
- Comments (4)
The default settings of Windows 7 are inadequate for protecting against modern malware, a security firm has claimed.
Chester Wisniewski of Sophos said that Windows 7 is vulnerable to eight out of 10 viruses. However, the company tested Microsoft's new operating system without installing any anti-virus software.
Testing 10 of the newest infections on a Windows 7 PC, Sophos found that all but two ran on the computer with User Account Control (UAC) switched off, but when it was switched on, only seven of the malware programs managed to activate themselves.
Windows 7 - 14 reasons to upgrade
"User Account Control's default configuration is not effective at protecting a PC from modern malware. Lesson learned? You still need to run anti-virus on Windows 7," Wisniewski said.
Sophos did stress that all surfers should use anti-virus protection, no matter which operating system they used.
"Windows 7 is no cure for the virus blues, so be sure to bring your protection when you boot up," said Wisniewski.
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Comments
Latest comments
November 03 20:38
Steve
Well yea, that's a given, considering that Windows IS a Virus to begin with, you definatly should install a Good Anti Virus or Internet Suite.
The more protection, the better!!
November 04 11:09
John
Virus security firm that sells virus software telling us we might need virus software, apparently Powergen have also said that Windows 7 might not work if you don't pay your electricity bill!
November 04 13:52
chuck
All OS's have their security problems, it isn't new, Why would someone not have basic security software installed? If they wanted to keep it in the microsoft arena maybe they should have tested it with the microsoft security essentials suite!?!
November 12 18:52
ray webster
Pc operating system vunerable to virus attacks without software protection when online? wow.....talk about stating the obvious