Windows 10 Had More Vulnerabilities than Windows 7 Last Year

[Exterminator]

Windows 10 Had More Vulnerabilities than Windows 7 Last Year

A new research conducted by RiskBased Security and analyzing vulnerabilities reported in 2016 reveals that, last year, Microsoft patched a bigger number of security flaws than in 2015, with Internet Explorer and Windows 10 now topping a chart for all-time vulnerability count.

Specifically, the study shows that last year Microsoft addressed a total of 729 vulnerabilities in its software, more than the 703 confirmed for 2015. What’s a bit worrying, however, is that this is nearly the double of the vulnerability count in 2014, when Microsoft found and fixed 383 security flaws.

The research also indicates that Internet Explorer continues to be the Microsoft application with the biggest number of vulnerabilities, with an all-time chart indicating that the browser was affected by no less than 1,261 flaws.

Surprisingly, however, Windows 10 is the runner-up, with Microsoft’s latest operating system getting the second spot with 705 vulnerabilities. Windows 10 was launched in July 2015 and 2016 was its first full year on the market.

Windows Server 2012 is third with 660 vulnerabilities, while Windows 7 comes next with 647 flaws. Windows Vista is fifth with 621.

Users not exposed despite the bigger number of vulnerabilities
What’s essential to know is that although the number of vulnerabilities increased in Windows 10, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the latest operating system is less secure than its predecessors.

Most of these vulnerabilities were privately reported to Microsoft and they were fixed before any exploits went public, so users weren’t exposed to any attacks.

At the same time, Microsoft is also paying particular attention to making Windows 10 capable of mitigating zero-day vulnerabilities even when no patch is available. Recently, the company revealed that Windows 10 Anniversary Update, which was launched in August 2016, managed to cope with attacks aimed at exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities in the operating system, keeping users secure until Microsoft actually delivered a fix.

Furthermore, Microsoft has already started downplaying Windows 7, explaining that it’s less secure than Windows 10 and pointing to the security features that its latest operating system has and which are missing because of the obvious technical limitations on its predecessors.

 

[_CyberGhosT_]

I know windows 10 fans are not interested in this kind of stat,
but this sounds about right compared to the fear mongering
drivel MS would have you believe.
Thanks Exterminator.

 

[DJ Panda]

To be honest is this really surprising? Its starting to become more common with people using Windows 10 now so of course hackers are going to try to exploit it a lot more. Not saying that 7 is at all better.

 

[Rolo]

"Security as a Service"

 

[Deleted member 178]

Pointless and "gimme some attention" article, compare them in a 15 years range, then we can start talking.

What the hell people compare things by different criterias...

 

[reboot]

Pointless and "gimme some attention" article, compare them in a 15 years range, then we can start talking.

What the hell people compare things by different criterias...

Lmao... your comments always make my day! Especially when you don't hold back ;-)

 

[Deleted member 178]

@reboot i just tell logic and common sense, do you find normal to compare an adult immune system with the one of a 2 years old child and then say , "hey child, your immune system is weaker than mine, you suxx bigly" ... i dont think so...

to those writers , i say "come on...gimme a break..."

 

[uncle bill]

Totally agree with Umbra. Peoples have a lot of information to judge but still they get "only" what they want to get and forget/ignore the rest. Sure, numbers don't lie but it's too early to state 7 is better of 10. Only time will give as an answer and I'll take it as it comes, with an open mind.

 

[Wingman]

Also the article doesn't provide the complete picture IMO. It's not about the number of vulnerabilities but the impact they have and whether they were exploitable. For example in a month Windows 10 might had 7 low vulnerabilities and windows 7 might had 3 critical ones. Which one is more important for the end user/organisation to patch?

 

[Deleted member 178]

Also the article doesn't provide the complete picture IMO. It's not about the number of vulnerabilities but the impact they have and whether they were exploitable. For example in a month Windows 10 might had 7 low vulnerabilities and windows 7 might had 3 critical ones. Which one is more important for the end user/organisation to patch?

good point too, as said @Wingman , people read the title and don't bother to get the full picture then report what they think they understood seeding FUDs everywhere.

is it "fake news" ?

 

[tim one]

Just saying that as long as there will be critical updates, then there will be vulnerabilities..until the end of support.
As in all previous Windows versions.

 

[Deleted member 178]

i will say perfection won't exist, because humans are flawed by design...so flawed and vulnerable are their creations...to get perfection, just wait Skynet it shouldn't take too long from now...