14 DAY TRIAL // Research conducted by security vendor Avast reveals that millions of Windows 7 computers are currently out-of-date, with some of them even running the RTM build of the operating system.
According to their findings, Windows 7 is currently the leading desktop platform with a 43 percent share, followed by Windows 10 with 40 percent. Windows 8 is third with 12 percent, just ahead of Windows XP and Windows Vista.
No less than 13 percent of all Windows 10 devices are currently running older versions of the operating system, and Avast warns that it discovered a worrying share of devices currently on Windows 10 RTM or the Creators, which are no longer receiving updates for Home and Pro SKUs.
Google Chrome, the top app
In the case of Windows 7, it’s even worse. Out of all Windows 7 desktop PCs, no less than 15 percent are currently on the RTM build that was compiled by Microsoft in 2009 and released to users as the original version of the operating system.
15 percent of all Office installations are Office 2007, according to Avast, which no longer receives support either. Only 3 percent of users run Office 2010, which is the next version to get the ax next year.
There are also millions of devices that run outdated software. Avast says 55 percent of all installed applications aren’t updated to the latest version. Adobe Shockwave is most often outdated, followed by VLC Media Player, Skype, and Java.
Google Chrome is the most used application, while Adobe Acrobat Reader is the runner-up, just ahead of WinRAR. Microsoft Office and Mozilla Firefox round up the top 5.
The latest updates for Windows 7 will be released on January 14, 2020, and in the meantime, expect Microsoft to become more aggressive in its efforts to move users to Windows 10.