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A study conducted by cybersecurity company Kaspersky has revealed that as many as 22 percent of personal computer users are still using end-of-life Windows 7 operating systems. The findings are based on anonymized data collected from Kaspersky Security Network users, who consented to it. The study has found that less than one percent of PC users have Windows XP and Vista. The support for Windows XP ended in 2014, while for Windows Vista, it ended in 2017.
Speaking about the importance of updating the operating system, Oleg Gorobets, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Kaspersky, said that the operating system update “fixes bugs that can open a gaping door for cybercriminals to enter.”Among the users of Windows 7, almost 22 percent of users are from small and medium businesses (SMBs) and tiny businesses (VSBs), as per the press statement by Kaspersky. It further mentions that around 72 percent of users use Windows 10, which is the latest version of Windows operating systems and has support. As many as 24 percent of users run a Windows operating system that does not have mainstream support.
He added that regardless of third-party solutions for cybersecurity, OS updates should not be overlooked. Equating OS to a house, Oleg said, “If your house is old and crumbling, there is no point in installing a new door. It makes more sense to find a new home, sooner rather than later”.
The cybersecurity company suggests that users should use an updated OS to protect their data and make sure that the auto-update is enabled.
