Windows 7 most popular OS for Microsoft security software

 

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By Barry Collins and Jon Honeyball

Posted on 16 Oct 2009 at 13:24

Almost half of the people who've download Microsoft's new security software are running Windows 7.

No fewer than 44% of the people who've downloaded the free Microsoft Security Essentials are running Windows 7, according to the company, despite the fact that the operating system hasn't even been officially launched yet.

Windows XP comes in second place, with 33% of the downloads, while Vista brings up the rear on 23%.

About a third of Windows 7 Microsoft Security Essentials machines are 64-bit, which is even more resistant to malware than 32-bit due to PatchGuard

The figures are undoubtedly encouraging for Microsoft, although the vast majority of those Windows 7 users will still be using the free Release Candidate software, and therefore may baulk at paying for security software for an operating system that will expire next Spring.

Yet, despite the fact that Windows 7 is the most widely used OS for Security Essentials, it's recording the fewest malware detections.

Only 16% of the detections have taken place on Windows 7 machines, according to Microsoft's normalised figures. Vista accounts for 32% of attacks while Windows XP hits 52%.

"The Windows 7 numbers are spectacular for an operating system that hasn't yet released for global availability," the software giant's Joe Faulhaber comments on the Microsoft Malware Protection Center blog. "Even better, about a third of Windows 7 Microsoft Security Essentials machines are 64-bit, which is even more resistant to malware than 32-bit due to PatchGuard."

"By looking at detections divided by active Microsoft Security Essentials machines over the whole population, we see far more detections per XP machine, with the fewest from Win7. This follows our usual observed trend of seeing less malware on newer OSes and service packs."

You can read our review of Microsoft Security Essentials here.