Millions of Windows devices are still infested with malware
Over 100 million malware infections were detected on Windows in 2020
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Over 100 millionWindowsconsumer and business devices across the world were infected withmalwarelast year, new analysis has found.
While examining the recentMalwarebytes"State of Malware" report,Atlas VPNnoted that whilst the number of infected Windows machines seems high, this landmark figure was actually 12% drop when compared to 2019.
“The decline in Windows malware infections might signify that cybercriminals have found other more effective methods to exploit victims online,” noted Atlas VPN COO Rachel Welch, urging caution.
Popular malware
While it isn’t a surprise that a majority of the malware resided inside consumer devices, around 15% of cases, equivalent over 16 million devices, were recorded on devices used bybusinesses.
Again, while alarming, the number of business Windows devices infected in 2020 registered almost a 10% drop when compared to 2019, possibly due to more stringent protocols for business devices being implemented asremote workingbecomes the norm.
The Malwarebytes survey pointed to HackTool as the most popular piece of malware. It registered a massive spike and was found in over 18 million devices in 2020, up from 7.4 million in 2019.
The most common type of malware however was adware, which accounted for 32% or 35.5 million Windows malware cases in 2020. Next in line were trojans that were found in 27% or 29.9 million devices.
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
With almost two decades of writing and reporting on Linux, Mayank Sharma would like everyone to think he’sTechRadar Pro’sexpert on the topic. Of course, he’s just as interested in other computing topics, particularly cybersecurity, cloud, containers, and coding.
Phishing attacks surge in 2024 as cybercriminals adopt AI tools and multi-channel tactics
This new phishing strategy utilizes GitHub comments to distribute malware
Arcane season 2 finally gave us the huge Caitlyn and Vi moment we’ve been waiting for – and its creators say ‘we couldn’t have done it in season one’
