70 percent of Swiss home users running outdated versions of Windows
An outdated version of Windows is lying dormant on a majority of Swiss private computers. According to a projection by Eset, it also affects outdated operating systems such as Windows Vista and Windows XP, while the end of support for Windows 8.1 is already within reach.
Almost 70 percent of the Swiss population work privately on Windows computers. According to a projection by the security software provider Eset, the number of privately used Windows systems totals over 2.7 million computers. A large majority of systems in Swiss households have a current version of Windows installed. However, at least until the end of 2021, over 135,000 devices were still running outdated and no longer supported versions of the operating system. Specifically, this is said to be 120,000 PCs with Windows 7, 10,900 with Windows 8, 3200 with Windows Vista and 2300 Windows XP PCs.
MacOS ranks second among the operating systems used in private households with a usage rate of 28 percent or 1.2 million devices. Linux as a desktop OS, on the other hand, is still not very widespread in Swiss private households with only 1.2 percent. Extended support for Windows 8.1 ends on January 20, 2023. Users should already prepare for this end of support and switch to a current version. According to Eset, the following three tips are recommended to protect against cyber attacks:
- Update Windows versions: Old Windows operating systems should no longer be used. Eset recommends switching to Windows 10 or Windows 11, and a Linux distribution could also be an alternative.
- Regular updates: The operating system, firmware and installed software should always be up-to-date.
- Use security software: A modern Internet security solution is definitely not a bad idea.
Source: Eset
