AutoRun malware infections declining
Summary: Microsoft is observing a 59% decline of AutoRun malware infections on XP, followed by 74% on Vista.
Following February's update issued by Microsoft limiting the propagation of AutoRun-based malware on Windows XP, the company has just reported that the move is working and that Microsoft is observing a significant decline in the propagation of AutoRun-based malware.
More specifically, the company is observing a 59% decline on XP, followed by 74% on Vista in comparison to the 2010 infection rates:
- 62 percent decrease on Windows XP SP 3
- 68 percent decrease on Windows Vista SP 1
- 82 percent decrease on Windows Vista SP 2
Millions of users continue using pirated Windows copies, preventing them from obtaining the latest Windows Updates, thereby exposing themselves to malware attacks.
Why do you think users continue using pirated copies of Microsoft's products, thereby exposing themselves to security risks? Does software piracy really lead to higher malware infection rates?
What do you think?
Talkback.
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Talkback
6 years later
bad design decision-makers at microsoft that feign naivety about the significance of security vs. functionality trade-offs are more a danger than pirated systems.
i thought that msft is more "open" about keeping pirated systems clean. aren't security patches still downloadable on pirated microsoft windows installations?
RE: AutoRun malware infections declining
For the rest of the world, if you don't turn on AU and got infected, you only have yourself to blame.
The bulk of XP users are still in China
Dodgy vs Legit OS installs.
For me, moving from dodgy to legit OSes was part of growing up and feeling more appreciation for the work that goes into software. The fact that Bill Gates never showed up with a SWAT team suggests to me that he remembers being a kid once too. Or maybe I am on the next page of his list? Hmmm.
Pirates intelligence
I have to concur with Samic that the average WinXP Pirate is NOT going to allow their computer to "phone home" to Microsoft for security updates. Personally I consider software piracy to be a criminal activity and that criminals are by and large not highly intelligent.
http://smiley.pmaco.com/journal/201103/IIQindex_February_update_SJ110301_.html
Dancho, my answer to your question is "Yes", sort of. Piracy does lead to higher malware infection rates because it leaves more infectable systems for the script kiddies to access, but the pirates are a subset of the REAL culprits which are sloppy, inattentive computer users.
Smiley
Microsoft AND Anti-Virus companies
It is very good news that most of these are now being tackled by Microsoft AND the Anti-Virus companies. Please remember that it is largely prompt action by the AV companies that stop the majority of Autorun attacks. If it wasn't for the AV companies many more of these would get through by the time Microsoft (eventually!) gets round to patching their OS!
RE: AutoRun malware infections declining
Depends on the pirate's intelligence
It all falls back to their intelligence with computers. Unfortunately, majority of pirates are simply noobish chitas/followers, which is why the statement "<b>Software piracy leads to higher infection rates</b>" holds true :)
RE: AutoRun malware infections declining
RE: AutoRun malware infections declining
In the mean time, can someone explain the logic of why Itunes install services on Windows? Do they have some kind of an ego problem?
The question was WHY DO PEOPLE USE PRIATED WINDOWS
For many others, coughing up $150 - $200 for a retail box of Windows is not a realistic option, (especially when OEMs and Third World hackers are offered licenses for pennies on the dollars.
Finally, lots of people have OEM PCs and didn't get (or lost) their install disks. They have a sticker on the case, but the key doesn't work with the borrowed install CD they have, so they search the internet and get a pirated install KEY that will work with the disk they did scratch up. Often they had Home Edition and could only come up with a Pro install disk, so no updates for them! Yes, I have seen this multiple times. M$ creates a lot of headaches with the different versions not installing off the same disk. Often, when downloading an install CD iso, they can find upgraded versions with pirated keys available side by side. Since M$ already drove them to the internet, they figure, "Why not?"
Those are some of the reasons people continue to pirate Windows.