Microsoft Reveals PCs without Antivirus Protection are 5.5-Times More Likely to Get Malware

It would be a safe bet to place all of your money on the idea of your PC becoming infected with some form of malware through a year's time. It would also be a relatively safe bet to guess that computers without antivirus protection are more likely, as much as 5.5 times more likely to get malware infections, according to the latest Microsoft Security Intelligence Report.

The Microsoft Security Intelligence Report is an exclusive analyses released twice a year from data gathered over the threat landscape of malware, exploits and vulnerabilities from internet services and over 600 million computers around the world. In the latest Microsoft Security Intelligence Report, it was concluded that computers running while connected to the Internet are about 5.5 times more likely to get malware infections.

Although, it seems to be a no-brainer for systems running unprotected will be more susceptible to malware threats, the reality as to why several computers are left without protection is a multi-faced issue. Computer users sometimes have a short attention span, and if their system is not damaged or taken out of commission by malware, then they will naturally avoid the election of antivirus protection.

"People intuitively understand the importance of locking their front doors to prevent their homes from being broken into. Computer security is no different. Surfing the internet without up-to-date antivirus software is like leaving your front door open to criminals," said Tim Rains, director, Trustworthy Computing, Microsoft.

With the statement of Tim Rains ringing true for a multitude of computer users around the world, it is no wonder malware and its hacker-cybercrooks who create it are having their best years ever by exploiting computers with sophisticated malware threats. Some of these new threats, even though they are extremely innovative, can be immobilized by real-time antivirus software.

There is no guaranteed solution when it comes to protecting a computer from malware. The odds naturally stack up against computer users regardless if they have the latest and greatest antivirus protection around. The fact remains, new malware threats will find a way into your virtual life one way or another.

What the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report uncovers about how computers without antivirus protection being 5.5 times more likely to get malware infections, is how computer users do not realize the importance of such protection. In many cases, systems are infected with malware simply because software is no longer up to date. For instance, PC users will occasionally run antivirus software but many times the choice application becomes outdated or a trial period runs out, and their system is essentially left unprotected without the user's awareness. Moreover, failure to install antivirus software is due to the user not realizing how important it is.

The latest Microsoft Security Intelligence Report gives hints towards computer users lacking the ability to take proactive measures. It even gives way for how experienced Internet users are not always able to avoid coming in contact with malware even when they are equipped with antivirus software. However, those utilizing updated real-time antivirus software have an advantage over those who are unprotected, a finding where unprotected systems were a total of 5.5 times more likely to become infected with various types of malware.