Windows systems six times more vulnerable to malware than macOS

A report from Surfshark reveals that Windows systems are approximately six times more likely to be affected by malware than macOS devices. Based on 391,305 malware detections recorded between January and July 2026, the data shows that Windows accounted for 92.1% of all threats, despite representing only 66% of the analyzed user base. In contrast, macOS users made up 34% of the base but experienced only 7.9% of the detections.

Trojan activity is a dominant threat on Windows, representing 46.2% of detections, with its prevalence increasing steadily from 41.9% in January to 49.5% in July. Riskware remains a significant factor for both platforms, accounting for 18.8% of Windows detections and 17.5% for macOS. While Windows faces a higher volume of traditional infections, phishing remains a notable risk for macOS, accounting for 14.9% of its detections compared to just 3.2% on Windows.