Windows 10 Nears One Billion Users —More Fools for the Fire

But that all means very little to Microsoft, which announced today that the software is now live on more than 900 million devices. This puts them one step closer to the stated goal of one billion active users. 

#Windows10 is on more than 900M devices! Thanks to our customers, we added more new Windows 10 devices in the last 12 months than ever before. From PCs to HoloLens to Xbox to Surface Hub, Windows continues to power innovation—with more to come next week! https://t.co/G3CRdkFoPT pic.twitter.com/38fKk50IEH

— Yusuf Mehdi (@yusuf_i_mehdi) September 24, 2019

To put that number in perspective, there are just 100 million MacOS users globally. In fact, the entire Apple device suite boasts only 1.3 billion devices, whereas just the Windows 10 operating system is approaching one billion users. 

Why The Growth? 

In spite of complexities, the growth in Windows 10 users is due in large part to innovation and support. Microsoft abandoned the Windows Phone but has innovated widely in-game systems and virtual reality technology. The software is currently active on Xbox, HoloLens, and Surface Hub, to name a few.  Additionally, the announcement that the company will cease offering support on Windows 7 has caused users to migrate. Seen as the last popularly viable OS from Microsoft, Windows 7 users were generally loyal. They are now being forced to upgrade by January 2020.  This upgrade demand is likely the cause of the huge growth in recent months. The company moved from 800 million to 900 million users since March alone. 

A Widening Pool

However, while the growth may seem encouraging, many believe it just widens the victim pool for hackers. Windows 10 has been notoriously vulnerable to hackers, particularly through the Cortana feature.  Seen as an answer to Apple’s Siri, Cortana has been used to unlock PCs remotely. And, once on the computer, hackers have been able to gain system privileges and wreak havoc fairly quickly.  While Microsoft has been quick to release patches for these vulnerabilities, the risks continue. Devotees to other operating systems see the growth in Windows 10 users as simply more cannon fodder for hackers.  Nevertheless, the rampage of growth at Microsoft continues. The company looks poised to hit its original goal of One billion users in five years. While the original hope was three years, the growth is still remarkable.  Do you think this growth is good for the industry, or are these poor saps just setting themselves up for later hacking sorrows? Let us know in the comments below! 

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