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95 Of Every 100 Windows PCs Miss Security Updates

Posted by timothy on from the vested-interests-rational-fears dept.

An anonymous reader writes "From Computerworld today: 'Nearly all Windows computers are likely running at least one unpatched application and about four out of every ten contain 11 or more vulnerable-to-attack programs, a vulnerability tracking company said today.' The new data comes from Secunia's free security-patch scanner the Secunia's PSI. The complete data run-down is available here."

7 of 126 comments (clear)

  1. Hang on- by Naughty+Bob · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well shit! this would explain all that stuff about windows and viruses I keep hearing about....

    --
    "Be light, stinging, insolent and melancholy"
  2. Sounds like like Lunix, OSX by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So the point isn't about Windows... the point is about users.

    1. Re:Sounds like like Lunix, OSX by Architect_sasyr · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I don't know why this was modded flamebait, maybe because the AC says "Lunix". The point *is* about Lusers, that is the WHOLE point. I for one know that the only reason my Mac users update their software is so that they can have the latest and greatest, the Linux guys in the office don't update their software. This is actually good because I rely on exploits to gain remote control over some of those machines which are *technically* out of my jurisdiction. The windows users all update their software regularly. Why? Because I built a WSUS server and FORCE them to via group policy. Fully 85% of them hadn't done a single update till I forced this out (note: only recently stepped into this role, so not my fault!). I know most of them don't do it at home.

      Linux users, OS X users, hell even me and my FreeBSD boxes are just as bad. It's a PEBKAC and has nothing to do with what OS you run.

      --
      Me failed English...
      FreeBSD over Linux. If my comments seem odd, this may explain...
  3. Re:Is that... by Qzukk · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Nah, it's the ones where people did the smart thing: they set up automatic updates, they set up a non-privileged user that they use every day... then they never logged back in as Administrator to click "ok" on the service pack 2 license.

    --
    If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
  4. People ignore software update alerts by Freaky+Spook · · Score: 4, Insightful


    When I look at people's computers these days they have heaps of different software popping up asking for updates, its got to a point where people ignore it, because its much too common.

    The thing that annoys me most about update alerts is they never give you a reason why the software should be updated. It would be nice if they would give you a link or a summary of simple reasons why you need to actually update their free crapware.

    Java and adobe products are probably the worst with this.

  5. Sales FUD by MeanMF · · Score: 4, Informative

    They're looking at EVERY piece of software installed on the computer, not the OS itself. They're doing this along with a very generous definition of "security update" to come up with hugely inflated numbers so they can better scare the clueless into buying their services.

  6. duhhhh.... by debatem1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Anybody who is remotely worried about security is probably not going to download a tool that reports your security status to another organization.