Nearly three quarters (74 percent) of all rootkit infections originate on a PC running Windows XP, says Avast.
Just under half of Avast customers run the aging OS
Research by the security firm's Virus Lab revealed that almost half (49 percent) of Avast antirvirus users run the aging operating system, while 38 percent plump for Microsoft's latest iteration of the platform, Windows 7, and the remaining 13 percent use Windows Vista. However, just 12 percent of all rootkit infections originate from Windows 7 machines, and the remainder from PCs running Vista.
"One issue with Windows XP is the high number of pirated versions, especially as users are often unable to properly update them because the software can't be validated by the Microsoft update," said Przemyslaw Gmerek, Avast's lead researcher.
"Because of the way they attack – and stay concealed – deep in the operation system, rootkits are a perfect weapon for stealing private data."
Gmerek said more recent operating systems like Windows 7 are more resilient to rootkits but warned users not to get complacent as they are not immune to infection.
Nearly two thirds (62 percent) of all rootkit infections were targeting the Master Boot Record (MBR) while 27 percent were driver infections.
Gmerek advised web users to keep antivirus software installed and updated on their machines, regardless of which operating system them use. Furthermore, if they suspect there's an issue, they should scan their computers a rootkit removal tool.
Comments
F3R said: An obvious attempt to push XP users to BUY and install Windows 7 This time they try it by scaring people I do not understand why people can realize it
John Boy said: The last sentence of the 2nd paragraph seems to suggest that no XP machines suffer from rootkit infections That cant be right