Windows is the most popular operating system among desktop and laptop users, with around 30 per cent of the OS market share worldwide. This is one of the reasons why it is also the most targeted by malware.

According to data analysed by the Atlas VPN team, based on AV-TEST GmbH statistics, 59.58 million new Windows malware samples were detected in the first three quarters of 2022. They make up a whopping 95.6 per cent of all new malware discovered in that period.

Linux malware takes the second spot on the list with 1.76 million new malware samples — 2.8 per cent of the total new malware threats in Q1-Q3 2022.

Android malware takes the bronze medal, with 938,379 newly discovered malware threats detected in the same period. This constitutes 1.5 per cent of all new malware in Q1-Q3 2022.

Finally, macOS was targeted with 8,329 never-before-seen malware threats in the same period.

Despite various anti-malware measures that exist today, cyber criminals continuously...