StatCounter Archives

Winsage

August 27, 2026

Windows malware numbers look awful next to macOS. I’m still not worried

Windows holds a 71 percent share of the desktop market, with over 1.6 billion active Windows PCs globally. In contrast, macOS accounts for just over seven percent of the market, rising to nearly 20 percent when combined with OS X. Windows users face a variety of threats, including trojans and riskware, and in 2025, Windows users encountered seven times more malware than macOS users. Surfshark's data indicates that macOS users are increasingly targeted by phishing attacks, which pose significant financial and personal risks.

Winsage

August 18, 2026

China reportedly orders state agencies to uninstall its government-only edition of Windows 10 — Beijing accelerates planned retirement over data security concerns

China's Ministry of State Security has directed state-linked organizations to remove a tailored version of Windows 10 from their systems, expediting a planned phase-out initially set for February 2027. This directive is driven by data security concerns, although specific vulnerabilities were not disclosed. The customized version, developed by C&M Information Technologies (CMIT), is based on Windows 10 Enterprise but modified to exclude consumer features and ensure updates remain within China. Since its launch in 2017, it has been used by various central agencies. The Chinese government has also encouraged the elimination of foreign-branded computers, leading to the emergence of domestic operating systems. Despite these efforts, as of July 2026, Windows held an 87.64% share of desktop web traffic in China, with Windows 10 accounting for 43.56% of usage. Approximately two in five Chinese desktops still run an unsupported version of Microsoft's software.

Winsage

August 7, 2026

Windows 10 Is No Longer As Safe As It Used To Be – So Why Aren’t More People Updating?

Windows 11 has faced criticism from users, despite improvements like the option to uninstall AI features. Some users are attempting to run it on unsupported hardware, leading to frustrations, especially after updates. The percentage of Windows 10 users decreased from about 42% in October 2025 to 26% by May 2026, following the end of support for Windows 10. Safety for Windows 10 users depends on participation in the extended support program and staying updated, but risks include the expiration of security certificates crucial for Secure Boot, set to expire in mid-2026. Microsoft is issuing updates for eligible machines, but support is not indefinite, and older systems may face difficulties. Third-party applications may also withdraw compatibility with Windows 10. Alternatives to upgrading include Apple's Mac OS and Linux, which has seen a rise in market share, surpassing 4.7% globally by 2025. Linux distributions like Zorin OS and Linux Mint mimic the Windows experience, and ChromeOS can be installed on various computers.

Winsage

August 6, 2026

Windows 10 LTSC 2021 has five months before security updates cost extra

Microsoft has announced that support for Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 will end on January 12, 2027, coinciding with the release of a final security update. Organizations can enroll in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program to maintain security updates beyond this date, which will cost per device in Year 1, with prices doubling each subsequent year until the program ends on January 8, 2030. ESU sales will start on September 1, 2026, and licenses are cumulative. The ESU program does not cover Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC, which is supported until January 13, 2032. Organizations using Microsoft’s cloud-based update services can receive a 25 percent discount on the Year 1 price. As of July, 16.9 percent of monitored devices were still running Windows 10, with migration to Windows 11 stalling due to compatibility issues and hardware requirements.

Winsage

August 5, 2026

Desktop Linux just cracked 10% market share – and Windows 11 is mostly to blame

Desktop Linux has reached a market share of 10.65% in North America, doubling from a 5% share in 2025. When including Chrome OS, the combined market share rises to 12.72%. The US federal government's Digital Analytics Program (DAP) reports Linux's market share at 5.8%, with a total end-user Linux share of approximately 19% when factoring in Android and Chrome OS. Key reasons for users leaving Windows include the transition to Microsoft 365, improved gaming on Linux, better user-friendliness, enhanced hardware compatibility, and privacy concerns. Approximately 25% of Windows 10 PCs are ineligible for an upgrade to Windows 11, with 22.16% of Windows users still on Windows 10. A survey found that 26% of users plan to continue using Windows 10 after support ends. Users are frustrated with Windows, viewing Windows 11 as a promotional platform for Microsoft's services. Modern Linux distributions are user-friendly, and installation is straightforward. Linux is recognized for its superior security compared to Windows, which has faced numerous vulnerabilities and security patches.

Winsage

August 3, 2026

Linux didn’t just eat 10% of Windows market share, AI bots are inflating the numbers

The Linux desktop market share has not exceeded 10% in North America, and Windows is not experiencing a significant loss of users. Recent claims about Linux's market share reaching over 10% are based on misinterpreted data from StatCounter, which tracks page views rather than actual users. StatCounter's methodology can lead to inflated Linux numbers due to increased bot activity. In July 2026, it was reported that Windows market share remained above 60%. Cloudflare Radar also noted a spike in Linux usage, but this was largely attributed to automated traffic, with human-only traffic showing Linux at approximately 4.7%. Microsoft reports that Windows 11 is currently operating on 1.6 billion PCs.

Winsage

July 22, 2026

Still on Windows 10? You’re carrying 3x the security risk of Windows 11

A study by Lansweeper found that Windows 10 PCs have an average of 1,903 active security vulnerabilities, while Windows 11 systems have only 652 vulnerabilities. As of June 2026, nearly 20% of Windows PCs in the U.S. are still using Windows 10, despite Microsoft ceasing regular updates for it. Users can enroll in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for continued security updates until October 12, 2027. Security experts have urged users to upgrade to Windows 11 due to increasing vulnerabilities in Windows 10, while some data privacy experts recommend staying with Windows 10 for as long as possible.

Winsage

July 22, 2026

One in six Windows PCs still runs Windows 10, and the vulnerabilities are piling up

Approximately 17% of all Windows client devices are still running Windows 10, equating to about one in six machines. Windows 11 accounts for 78% of Windows devices, with third-party trackers indicating it surpassed 70% of desktop share as of February 2026. Official support for Windows 10 ended in October 2025, but Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program will provide patches until October 2027 for eligible devices. A typical Windows 10 device has an average of 1,903 active security vulnerabilities, nearly three times the 652 CVE-tracked flaws found on a Windows 11 machine. 66% of Windows 10 vulnerabilities are classified as "high" or "critical." Small and medium enterprises have 21.4% of their Windows devices still on Windows 10, while larger enterprises have 16.6%. The healthcare and pharmaceuticals sectors have 23% of devices on Windows 10, followed by consumer and retail at 22%, and manufacturing at 18%. Lansweeper is urging organizations to enroll in the ESU program and address reasons for remaining on Windows 10 as 2026 approaches.

Winsage

July 20, 2026

Microsoft is cutting support for some older OneDrive systems soon – here’s what you need to know

Microsoft will cease support for the OneDrive sync app on Windows 10 version 21H2 and earlier on August 15, 2026. Users of these older versions will no longer receive updates, including new features, bug fixes, or security enhancements. Windows 10 version 22H2 will continue to receive updates until October 10, 2028. Windows 10 accounts for approximately 28% of all Windows installations, while Windows 11 accounts for around 70%. Users can still access OneDrive through a web browser if the app becomes incompatible.

Winsage

July 16, 2026

Windows 10 refuses to die, and the security bill is coming due

Approximately 16.9 percent of monitored Windows devices are still running Windows 10, a decline from about half a year ago. Windows 10 will receive updates until October 12, 2027, for consumer devices and until October 10, 2028, for commercial customers. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have 21.4 percent of their machines on Windows 10, with 23 percent in healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors and 22.7 percent in consumer and retail. A Windows 10 device has an average of 1,903 active Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs), compared to 652 on Windows 11. Only 14 percent of Windows 10 assets have Extended Security Updates (ESU) patches applied. Many devices are tied to vendor certifications that complicate upgrades, and the rising cost of new PC hardware is a concern. The stagnation of Windows 11 adoption continues, with minimal change in market share distribution.