Top 10 Virus

Now that we in the northern hemisphere have had time to digest the Windows 7 hype and settle in for next winter, we thought we would get some more hard data on the safety of Windows 7.

On October 22, we moved in and loaded a copy SophosLabs full version of Windows 7 on a clean machine. We configured the system to track default for User Account Control (UAC) and does not charge any anti-virus software.

We grabbed the next 10 samples only happened in the diet SophosLabs to see how the new, more secure version of Windows and UAC delayed.

Unfortunately, despite claims from Microsoft, Windows 7 disappointed, just like earlier versions of Windows. The good news is that the freshness of the 10 samples that have arrived, 2 would not work properly under Windows 7.

User Account Control does not block a sample, but its failure to block everything else just reinforces my warning before the release of Windows 7 as the default UAC is not effective to protect a PC against programs Modern malware.

Lesson learned? You still need to run anti-virus software on Windows 7. Microsoft, the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report, published yesterday, stated that "The rate of infection of Windows Vista SP1 was 61.9 percent lower than that of Windows XP SP3.

But let us not be complacent. Microsoft seems to say that Vista is the least ugly baby in the family. You can be sure that the next report will highlight its even less ugly younger sibling, Windows 7.

Why do I say this? On October 31st www.netmarketshare.com states that Windows Vista has a market share of 19% compared to 70.5% Windows XP and Windows 7 is 2%. About 1 in 5 users can use either Windows Vista or Windows 7.

These users often have newer computers, automatic patching and firewall and antivirus software in place.

With millions of computers still infected Conficker, Bredo ZBot and it is obvious a lot of unprotected machines are still there, and it is not surprising that most of them are XP.

As the chart above shows, Windows 7 users need not feel excluded. They can still participate in the botnet ZBot with a side of fake anti-virus. Windows 7 is no cure for the blues virus, so make sure you bring your protection when you start.