| Can Windows 7 get viruses? The short answer - yes. | | | | operating system from Microsoft that is completely |
| By now many of you have made the move to | | | | immune to malware attacks. |
| Windows 7 and if you are like me, you are probably | | | | The reason that there will always be a need for |
| somewhat pleased with the new OS. It is proving to | | | | third-party antivirus software is really pretty simple. As |
| be better, by far, than its predecessor Vista. While | | | | far as the bad guys are concerned, Windows (any |
| Microsoft has made huge strides in plugging the many | | | | version) has a giant bulls-eye on it. For Microsoft, being |
| security holes in Windows 7, it seems they are still | | | | "king of the hill" has its down side. The bad guys that |
| vulnerable when it comes to viruses and other types | | | | create the malware are in it to make money and with |
| of malware. | | | | Windows being by far the most popular operating |
| Just after Microsoft released the final version of Win7, | | | | system in the world, that's where they concentrate |
| the people over at Sophos Labs tested a freshly | | | | their efforts. |
| installed copy of the OS on a clean PC with all security | | | | We hear all the time about Macs and their supposed |
| features set to defaults and with no antivirus installed. | | | | "immunity" to virus attacks. This really isn't because the |
| They then introduced 10 samples of the latest threats | | | | people at Apple have some secret formula for |
| that had been identified and the results were a bit | | | | creating code that viruses can't attack. It's just that |
| underwhelming for Microsoft. The good news - UAC in | | | | they own such a small portion of the market that the |
| Windows 7 successfully prevented 2 of the sample | | | | bad guys don't waste time writing code that targets |
| viruses from executing on the PC. The bad news - | | | | Mac computers. There's simply more money to be |
| The test machine became infected with the other 8. | | | | made by attacking PCs. If Mac were to ever take |
| Now of course you could make the argument that the | | | | control of the OS market, I guarantee the bad guys |
| Sophos people have a vested interest in a poor | | | | would start attacking it with the same success that |
| showing by Windows 7. After all, they do sell antivirus | | | | they have now in the PC market. |
| products so they don't exactly have a neutral | | | | For now though, Windows is still the most widely used |
| perspective. That argument, however doesn't change | | | | operating system in the world and Windows 7 is |
| the results of the test. Preventing only 2 of 10 viruses | | | | turning out to be a fine addition to Microsoft's lineup. It's |
| is not exactly something for Microsoft to crow about. | | | | new features are proving to be very useful and many |
| I'm sure that many more tests will be conducted, but | | | | of the things that users found so annoying in Vista are |
| for now this result is very telling. | | | | gone. From a security standpoint Win7 is not perfect, |
| For the record, this article is not meant to bash | | | | but I believe it's the best effort by Microsoft yet. So, if |
| Microsoft. I've given Windows 7 a thorough test drive | | | | you still haven't tried Windows 7, I encourage you to |
| and I really am impressed with it. I think the folks in | | | | take it for a spin. Just make sure you bring your |
| Redmond finally listened to their customers and got it | | | | antivirus with you. |
| right. That being said, I don't think there will ever be an | | | | |