Windows PCs face six times more malware than Macs, Surfshark reports
Surfshark analyzed more than 391,000 malware detections between January and July and found that Windows PCs face a malware risk nearly six times higher than macOS devices. Although Windows users make up 66 percent of Surfshark’s active base, they account for 92 percent of all detected threats. Trojans are the most common threat on Windows, with over 166,000 detections compared to just 7,600 on macOS. Virus detections also heavily favor Windows, showing more than 32,000 cases versus roughly 2,900 on macOS. Riskware is another major category, with Windows seeing around 67,500 detections and macOS about 5,400. Despite lower malware numbers, macOS users remain highly vulnerable to phishing due to a false sense of security. Surfshark notes that phishing is the third biggest threat for Mac users, while it plays a minor role for Windows users. The findings highlight how platform differences shape user risk profiles and security priorities.