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Screengrab via Mark Woolery/YouTube

Almost every PC hit by WannaCry ransomware runs Windows 7

If you are a part of the nearly 50 percent of PC owners still using Windows 7, now would be a great time to update.

 

Phillip Tracy

Tech

Posted on May 19, 2017   Updated on May 24, 2021, 1:48 pm CDT

Researchers are still trying to piece together details from the “WannaCry” ransomware attack that infected hundreds of thousands of computers in more than 150 countries. What we do know is that Windows 7 systems were impacted at a substantially higher rate than machines running Microsoft’s other operating systems.

According to data from Kapersky Labs, almost 98 percent of computers affected by the ransomware ran a version of Windows 7. Windows Server 2008 R2 accounted for a majority of the remaining 2 percent.

Windows 10 users shouldn’t worry about being vulnerable to WannaCry despite the latest OS’s appearance on the above chart. Costin Raiu, director of global research and analysis at Kapersky, says the .03 percent of Windows 10 computers containing the malware were infected manually by testers.

Windows XP, the third most popular Windows OS, is notably absent from the conversation. Many believed the malware was spread on unsupported systems like XP or Vista, but the data shows it instead went straight for the most popular Windows OS around, and one that is still supported by Microsoft.

If you are a part of the nearly 50 percent of PC owners still using Windows 7, now would be a great time to update to Windows 10.

H/T the Verge

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*First Published: May 19, 2017, 5:46 pm CDT