Because of their use on private PCs, operating systems make attractive targets for hackers. Keeping up with operating system patches is essential says a software firm. According to the data, private UK PC users are getting the message, it’s claimed. Only 5.4 percent had unpatched Windows operating systems as of Q2 2016, down from 10.3 percent this time last year, according to Flexera Software.
Kasper Lindgaard, Director of Secunia Research at Flexera Software said: “The decline in unpatched Windows operating systems is remarkable and encouraging. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues over the long run, especially as Windows 10 and its automated updates become more widely deployed.”
The top three most exposed programmes in the UK for the second quarter of 2016 represent 290 vulnerabilities over the last four quarters verified by Secunia Research. Of those 290, 23 of them are fixed in security patches rated ‘Extremely Critical,’ and 265 were fixed in patches rated ‘Highly Critical.’ According to the researchers, ‘Extremely Critical’ vulnerabilities are typically remotely exploitable vulnerabilities that can lead to system compromise. Successful exploitation does not normally require any interaction and exploits are in the wild. These vulnerabilities can exist in services like FTP, HTTP and SMTP or in certain client systems like email applications or browsers. ‘Highly Critical’ vulnerabilities are typically remotely exploitable and can lead to system compromise. Successful exploitation does not normally require any interaction but there are no known exploits available at the time of disclosure. Such vulnerabilities can exist in services like FTP, HTTP and SMTP or in client systems like email applications or browsers.
Lindgaard said: “The number of vulnerabilities just in the top three products underscores the vastness of the opportunity for hackers to gain entry into exposed systems, and the reason Software Vulnerability Management is so essential. The easiest, fastest and least costly way for companies and individual users to minimise risk is to patch known vulnerabilities before they become a problem.” Visit: www.flexerasoftware.com.
