Is macOS really that secure? Microsoft updates its Windows system much more frequently

Apple operating systems are generally considered to be more secure. This claim has been around both iOS vs Android and macOS vs Windows. For mobile devices, this is a relatively clear thing. iOS (iPadOS) is a closed system in which only approved applications from the official store can be installed. On the other hand, there is Android with sideloading, which makes it many times easier to attack the system. However, this no longer applies to desktop systems, as both support sideloading.

Even so, macOS has the upper hand in terms of security, at least in the eyes of some fans. Of course, this is not a completely flawless operating system. For this reason, after all, Apple quite often releases various updates that fix known security holes and thus ensure the maximum possible security. But of course Microsoft also does this with its Windows. Which of these two giants is more likely to correct the mentioned errors and is it true that Apple is simply ahead of the competition in this field?

Security patch frequency: macOS vs Windows

If you have been working on a Mac for some time now and therefore primarily use macOS, then you probably know that once a year there is a major update, or a completely new version of the system. Apple always reveals this on the occasion of the WWDC developer conference in June, while releasing it to the public later in the fall. However, we do not consider such updates for now. As we mentioned above, we are currently interested in so-called security patches, or minor updates, which the Cupertino giant releases approximately once every 2 to 3 months. Recently, however, the frequency has been slightly higher.

Windows 11 in practice

windows_11_screeny8

windows_11_screeny9

windows_11_screeny10

windows_11_screeny11

windows_11_screeny12

windows_11_screeny13

windows_11_screeny14

windows_11_screeny15

windows_11_screeny16

windows_11_screeny20

windows_11_next4

windows_11_screeny21

windows_11_screeny22

windows_11_next3

windows_11_next2

windows_11_next1

On the other hand, here we have Windows from Microsoft, which receives feature updates roughly twice a year, but this may not always be the case. As for the arrival of completely new versions, in my opinion Microsoft has a significantly better strategy. Rather than bringing a bunch of new features to the force every year and risking a lot of problems, he instead bets on a gap of several years. For example, Windows 10 was released in 2015, while we waited for the new Windows 11 until the end of 2021. During this time, Microsoft tweaked its system to perfection, or brought minor news. However, as for security updates, they come once a month as part of Patch Tuesday. Every first Tuesday of the month, Windows Update looks for a new update that fixes only known bugs and security holes, so it only takes a moment.

This is how Apple presented the current macOS 12 Monterey system

Who has better security?

Based on the frequency of security updates, Microsoft is the clear winner as it releases these minor updates more frequently. Despite this, Apple often takes a familiar position and calls its systems the most secure. The numbers also clearly speak in its favor – a significantly larger percentage of malware actually infects Windows than macOS. However, these statistics must be taken with a grain of salt, as Windows is number one worldwide. According to data from Statcounter 75,5% of computers run Windows, while only 15,85% run macOS. The rest is then divided between Linux distributions, Chrome OS and others. Looking at these shares, it is quite clear that Microsoft's system will be the target of various viruses and attacks much more often - it is simply much easier for attackers to target a larger group, thus increasing their potential for success.