Windows: Statistics show that Microsoft has released many more updates this year than in previous years.
The company has issued a total of 13 security updates as part of this month's ' Patch Tuesday ' tradition , which requires companies to release updates every second Tuesday of the month. However, while the giant is very efficient at patching, statistics show that the number of vulnerabilities found in Windows and other software continues to grow.
Data provided by Qualys shows that Microsoft has released a record number of patches for 2015, with the total count for the year already reaching 53. And it's only May! According to its forecasts, the company should release around 140 patches by December .
As you can see in the chart below, the number of patches released by the company last year showed a significant decrease compared to 2013, but this year's numbers are already the highest in the last six years, at least until May!
So the big question is: Why were so many vulnerabilities discovered in just 5 months? Is Windows less secure, or are hackers and vulnerability researchers more active and effective?
Another analysis from Qualys reveals that Microsoft's OS , Internet Explorer and Adobe 's Flash Player are still very high on the list of favorite targets for hackers, so no less than 5% of the already identified remote code execution vulnerabilities appear to have functional exploits. So all the weight falls on Microsoft and how quickly it can respond by fixing the problems in its software.
[blockquote]“Attackers have a range of exploits at their disposal for a variety of vulnerabilities, which they can tailor to their target. It would be safe to say that favorite targets certainly include Internet Explorer, Windows, and Adobe Flash Reader, which receive updates and fixes on a monthly basis, publishing over 20 CVEs per month. You should be prepared to install these updates as soon as possible,” the Qualys analysis states .
50% of new vulnerabilities gain their own exploit within the first 2 weeks of their discovery, so it is essential for the company to release patches as quickly as possible.
It may be difficult to answer the question posed, but the most important thing here is for Microsoft to react immediately. With Windows 10, the popular company promises not to make any more mistakes.
