Is Windows XP Dead? Not According To OPSWAT’s June 2011 Quarterly Report

To quote Mark Twain, “The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” I suspect, if Windows XP were capable of speech, we just might hear the same observation repeated regarding its own demise.

Sure, Windows XP no longer holds the overwhelming market share it once held – which, according to Computerworld, reached a high of  83.6% of all operating systems in November 2007. But, statistics in OPSWAT’s latest quarterly report, to be released today, might surprise those pundits who frequently pontificate that XP is dead – dead – dead. We’ll, it just isn’t so!

There’s little doubt of course, that XP will eventually disappear from the scene – but, not quite yet. In the meantime, according to OPSWAT, XP continues to hold a better than 50% worldwide operating system market share at 55.84%, followed by Windows 7 at 38.81%. Vista trails the pack, with a dismal showing of 4.72%.

BTW, I’m not here to dispute the fact that Windows 7 is considerably safer overall than XP – that would be simply ludicrous. But, it’s equally as ludicrous to ignore the fact (as so many self described “experts” do), that XP continues to command a huge market share. 

Graphic courtesy OPSWAT

Additionally, the OPSWAT’s report takes a close look at Worldwide and North American Antivirus vendors market share and, the gathered information may hold some surprises for those who assume that the security application marketplace is controlled by a select few major developers.

The following graphic reflects North American market penetration only. Worldwide statistics are available in the full report.

Graphic courtesy OPSWAT

Report methodology: Usage data for security applications on Windows systems.

The data was collected using OPSWAT’s AppRemover and Am I OESIS OK? tools, which utilize the detection capabilities of the OESIS Framework to collect information regarding the applications installed on endpoint computers.

More than 43,000 data points were compiled for this report.

The full report which is chock fill of absorbing statistics is available here.

So, who is OPSWAT? 

If you’re a techie then you’re very likely familiar with AppRemover, a free powerful anti-malware, antivirus application remover from OPSWAT. Beyond this direct connection however, you might not be familiar with OPSWAT.

From the site:

OPSWAT is the industry leader in software management SDKs, interoperability certification and multiple-engine scanning solutions. Our solutions are simplified and comprehensive, solving complex development problems to reduce time and costs for your engineering and testing teams.

OPSWAT offers software manageability solutions to streamline technology partnerships between leading technology solutions and software vendors. By enabling seamless compatibility and easy management capabilities, we make connecting your solutions with other software applications effortless.

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OPSWAT’s Latest Quarterly Report Breaks Down Antivirus Market Share, Windows Usage By Version, And More

If you’re a techie then you’re very likely familiar with AppRemover, a free powerful anti-malware, antivirus application remover from OPSWAT. Beyond this direct connection however, you might not be familiar with OPSWAT.

So, who are OPSWAT, and what do they do?

From the site:

OPSWAT offers software manageability solutions to streamline technology partnerships between leading technology solutions and software vendors. By enabling seamless compatibility and easy management capabilities, we make connecting your solutions with other software applications effortless.

As a Blogger, information gatherer, and distributor, there is an additional area of OPSWAT’s expertise that I find invaluable, and that is – the regular reports which the company releases on vendor market share for antivirus, hard disk encryption, backup clients, and peer to peer applications.

In its latest quarterly report, (to be released later today), OPSWAT has focused on Worldwide and North American Antivirus vendors market share, with additional data breaking down Windows usage by version and, bonus data on Peer to Peer application usage.

Here’s a few teasers from this report:

The avast! Antivirus product line has helped AVAST Soware maintain its position as the top antivirus vendor worldwide for the last two quarters, despite a slight drop to 16.19% global market share in this report.

Avira GmbH and AVG Technologies are second and third in global market share with 13.22% and 11.47% respectively. In comparison to the worldwide data from our December 2010 report, Avira GmbH shows a considerable increase of 4.96%, which could result from a higher percentage of the current data originating from countries where they have a stronger hold on the market.

The only other worldwide market share increases were by AVG, with a 1.76% gain from the December report, Lavaso, with a 0.82% rise, and Comodo, with a minimal increase of 0.06%.

Worldwide Antivirus Market Share

Graphic courtesy OPSWAT

North American Antivirus Market Share

Graphic courtesy OPSWAT

The following graphic might hold some surprises for those who insist that Windows XP is dead. If you were to Google “Windows XP is dead”, for example, you might be surprised to see 25 Million search results.

I’m continuously amazed at the gullibility of consumers, particularly here in North America, who are so easily convinced to discard workable solutions in favor of “the latest and greatest”.

As one who continues to happily run Windows XP on an older machine, I must admit to a certain sense of satisfaction when more than half of Worldwide users continue to resist Microsoft’s planned obsolescence cycle.

And yes, I’m quite familiar with the so called “security issues” inherent in running XP. What I find curious is – on the one hand we (those of us involved in system security), extoll users to develop situational awareness while on the Internet, while on the other hand, there’s a tendency to lay the blame for system intrusion based, in large part, on older operating system deficiencies. Marketing gone mad, anyone?

Windows OS Usage – by Version

Click on the graphic to expand to original.

Graphic courtesy OPSWAT

P2P Application Market Share

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Stay in Control With Free Auslogics Task Manager

Running on Windows 7 has loads of benefits over running on Windows XP Pro, including an improvement in the Windows Task Manager tool, which finally shows “running processes”.

But Windows Task Manager still remains a bit of a tease. Sure it provides you with some usable information, but it falls far short of providing you with all the information that you really need. A recent free offering from Auslogics, of Auslogics Disk Defrag fame, takes up the challenge where Windows Task Manager leaves off.

A very simple interface makes it easy to use Auslogics Task Manager, for both novices and pros, to manage computer resources.

Windows task manager (on Win 7)

Versus Auslogics Task Manager (on Win 7)

Fast facts:

View application and process

Shows all open files including the application that has locked it

Provides a security rating

View open files

Shows CPU usage

View memory and disk utilization

Shows Internet traffic and priority

End or freeze a process

Adjust CPU affinity and priority

This is a terrific free application and I have added it to my geek toolbox. Since malware can often restrict access to the Windows Task Manager, this application is good insurance to have handy.

Note: also available in a portable version that is just right for geeks on the go.

Download at: Major Geeks

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RadarSync PC Updater – Free Driver Update Software

The information in this article is now outdated (November 1, 2009). It’s now free to try – Download of new drivers is only upon subscriptions. $29.95 to buy.

Just a few days ago I reviewed DriverMax, a free driver backup/download utility, which several readers later pointed out had been crippled by the developer in the latest release. The program now allows only 2 driver downloads per 24 hour period. Limiting functionality in such a way is a counter productive move, in my view.

Contrast that developer decision with the decision of RadarSync Ltd., who did the reverse in releasing their paid update, backup, and download software, PC Updater, as freeware. As I said, “different strokes for different folks”.

I don’t normally recommend software until I have had an opportunity to thoroughly test it, including trying to break it, but in this case, based on the experience of one of my readers , Don N., I’ll make a one time exception.

Let me offer you this quote from Don N.

“Bill, I just installed RadarSync2009 (updated) and it works GREAT! Simple installation with no crappola … couldn’t believe how many outdated drivers I had!

It also allowed me to connect directly to each site for the updates, and also those sites that I had relevant programs. Updates were done without the usual site by site hassles and the installations completed without a hitch”.

That sounds like a pretty good recommendation to me. Thank you Don.

From the developer:

Updates both software and device drivers.

RadarSync`s award-winning software helps you update, backup, download and discover tons of software.

Find and download the latest updates for your computer drivers and applications. Create software Packs to backup your software.

Browse the software playlists of over 2 million community members to discover tons of new, free software.

RadarSync downloads and installs your updates, Packs, and the new software you discover in one easy click – anytime, from any computer!

Protect your PC from security threats – Avoid common computer problems – Easily restore your computer from your backup Packs.

Displays both up-to-date and out of date items – Notifies user when crucial applications are missing – Revised Help files and on screen help.

System requirements: Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and Vista 64 bit

Download at: RadarSync

WOT – Unique Website Security for Color Blind Users

According to the American Foundation for the Blind, visually impaired people work in virtually every sector of our economy, and are just as likely as the general population to use computers and the Internet.

Colorblindness, a particular type of visual impairment, affects approximately two percent of women and eight percent of men. People who are visually impaired in this way then, have great difficulty with color-based distinctions.

Web of Trust (WOT) a popular Internet Browser application has taken the lead in addressing this issue. This free Internet Browser resource which has established an impressive 3.5/5.0 star user rating on CNET, tests web sites for spyware, spam, viruses, browser exploits, unreliable online shops, phishing, and online scams.

WOT which integrates with search engine results from popular search engines including Google, Yahoo, MSN, Dogpile, Ixquick, Baidu and other popular sites, provides impressive protection against Internet predators and helps users’ avoid unsafe web sites.

The Browser add-on’s icon, normally displays a color rating for each site you visit, indicating whether a site is safe to use, should be used with caution, or avoided entirely. Using traffic light colors, (green, yellow, and red), WOT leaves you in no doubt as to the safety rating of a web site.

Recognizing that up to ten percent of Internet users are at a disadvantage however, due to colorblindness, and cannot rely on an Internet safety system based on color coding, the Web of Trust development team released a unique version of WOT. This particular version incorporates equivalent alternative information, through assistive or adaptive technology, for colorblind users.

Esa Suurio, CEO of Against Intuition Inc. referring to WOT’s development of this accessible application stated in part “Our goal is to make the Internet a safer place for everyone, so it was essential for us to make the extra effort.”

This colorblind accessible application will provide the same critical benefits to those individuals who have to contend with visual impairments, as it has to those of us who have come to rely on WOT as a major defense against the pervasive hazards we encounter on the Internet.

If you are challenged by colorblindness, or you know someone who is, then installing this browser add-on will increase Internet safety substantially by providing an in-depth site analysis based on real world results.

Quick facts – WOT checks the following:

Trustworthiness

Vendor reliability

Privacy

Child Safety

More quick facts:

Ratings for over 20 million websites

Downloaded over 1,000,000 times (Checkout WOT’s Million Download contest).

The WOT browser add-on is light and updates automatically

WOT rating icons appear beside search results in Google, Yahoo!, Wikipedia, Gmail, etc.

Settings can be customized to better protect your family

WOT Security Scorecard shows rating details and user comments

Works with Internet Explorer and FireFox

Interface supports English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish and Finnish.

Surf more securely by installing this unique browser add-on which will provide you with an in-depth site analysis based on real world results. Keep in mind however, that you are your own best protection. Stop · Think · Click

Download at: MyWot

Once you have downloaded and installed WOT, follow these instructions to enable the color blind version.

Open WOT settings from the rating window

Go to the Advanced page

Select the option “Enable color blind accessible version”

Press “Apply settings”

Demos:

A WOT demo video shows how WOT works in practice.

Watch the video on the colorblind accessible version.