14 DAY TRIAL // The global WannaCry ransomware outburst has wreaked havoc during the weekend, with thousands of computers being infected, and now security experts expect these figures to skyrocket since everyone’s returning to work on Monday and connect unpatched systems to the Internet.
And while Microsoft says that up-to-date systems aren’t vulnerable to WannaCry, there are actually lots of systems out there still running unsupported Windows versions, including Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 8.
Microsoft has already released an emergency patch for these systems, but it’ll clearly take a lot of time until everyone installs it, though for IT admins this is a Godsend.
According to data from NetMarketShare, no less than 9.3 percent of the Windows systems out there are running unsupported operating systems, including the three mentioned above, and without counting in Windows Server 2003, whose share is likely to be very small.
Windows XP is shockingly popular
Windows XP is currently the world’s third most popular operating system on the desktop with a share of 7.04 percent, even though it was launched nearly 16 years ago.
Updating is the only way to remain protected these days, and Microsoft calls for everyone to install the latest patches to make sure WannaCry doesn’t make them cry.
“As cybercriminals become more sophisticated, there is simply no way for customers to protect themselves against threats unless they update their systems. Otherwise they’re literally fighting the problems of the present with tools from the past. This attack is a powerful reminder that information technology basics like keeping computers current and patched are a high responsibility for everyone, and it’s something every top executive should support,” Microsoft’s Brad Smith says.
Of course, in the case of those running unsupported Windows versions, Microsoft’s emergency patch is a once in a lifetime release, with the company no longer planning to keep them patched. It remains to be seen how WannaCry infection rates evolve, but given these figures, the sky is the only limit.