If you're running Windows XP and turn off the firewall, in 2 hours, your PC will be overrun by malware

Have you ever wondered why sticking to the latest Windows versions, like Windows 10 or 11, is hammered into our heads by tech experts? Well, a recent video sheds light on this advice in a way that’s both fascinating and a bit terrifying. It’s all about security, a topic that, let’s be honest, can sometimes feel a bit abstract until you see it in action.

The video in question, created by Eric Parker, takes us on a journey back in time to Windows XP. It was the go-to operating system for many, and let’s face it, some of us might still get nostalgic about it. But here’s the kicker: Parker decided to run Windows XP without any of the protective measures we take for granted today, like Firewall and Defender. The result? Within minutes, the system was under attack.

Hackers are still coding malware for Windows XP?

Now, you might be thinking, But I wouldn’t disable my firewall! And you’re right, most of us wouldn’t. But the experiment highlights a critical point: the evolution of Windows security. The malware that swiftly took over the Windows XP system in the experiment included trojans, adware, and backdoor malware. It’s a stark reminder of how far we’ve come in terms of security features and why they’re so essential.

After connecting Windows XP to the internet and disabling the firewall, it took only ten minutes for the first malware to install itself on the system. After two hours, Malwarebytes detected 6 threats and it was unable to remove all and Parker declared a victory for the malware. DNS changers, trojans, worms were competing for the data stored on the PC.

What’s even more interesting is that attackers still create malware for Windows XP, which is an obsolete system for years. As products and services meet with demand, there must still be such antiquated systems worth stealing from.

And if we look at the StatsCounter’s latest report, we have our quantitative answer: 0.33% of the Windows running PCs still have XP installed. Not even 1%? That’s nothing. Well, not really. According to Microsoft’s latest data, there are 1.4 billion devices running the Windows OS, which means that about 5.5 million PCs are running Windows XP, quite a lot pool to steal from, right?

Parker also mentions in the clip that he tried the same experiment on Windows 7 and nothing happen. That’s not an encouragement to start using the old OS, but to acknowledge the evolution from system’s evolution.

We’ve learned about this story from Neowin. If you know about similar experiments, we would like to learn about them in the comments below.