Computers equipped with the Windows operating system showed a malware detection rate almost six times higher than that seen on macOS devices between January and July 2026. This data is part of a survey conducted by the company Surfshark Antivirus, which analyzed 391,305 threat occurrences in the period and correlated the results with the active user base of each platform.
The analysis revealed that although Windows users represented 66% of the antivirus’s active base, they were responsible for 92% of all identified threats. In contrast, macOS users, who corresponded to 34% of the base, registered only 8% of detections. This disparity in numbers translates into a per-user detection rate about six times higher for Windows.
Trojan viruses are the main threat identified in the Windows system
Trojan-type programs have emerged as the most prevalent malware among Windows users, accounting for 46% of detections on this system, compared to 25% on macOS. In absolute terms, Surfshark recorded more than 166,000 Trojan attacks on Windows machines and just over 7,600 on Apple devices.
More on this story: Apple’s new official recommendation requires iOS update to block attacks on iPhones
The riskware category, which encompasses legitimate software that can expose the system to vulnerabilities if used inappropriately, occupied the second position on both platforms. Examples include remote maintenance tools, data extraction utilities, and password managers. 67.5 thousand riskware detections were recorded on Windows and 5.4 thousand on macOS.
Viruses, malicious codes that are inserted into other applications to be executed, were responsible for 9% of detections on both Windows and macOS. However, the absolute volume varied greatly, with more than 32 thousand incidents on Windows and approximately 2.9 thousand on macOS.
Heuristic detections, which are based on identifying suspicious behavior in files, even if not cataloged as known threats, had a greater weight on macOS, representing 13% of the total. On Windows, this same category accounted for 8% of detections.
Learn more: TwinGuard: University of Surrey artificial intelligence stops 5G cyberattacks in milliseconds
Phishing attacks pose greater risk to Mac users
The threat scenario is reversed when the focus is on phishing. This technique, which uses deceptive emails, messages and calls to persuade victims to disclose personal information, ranked third in threats to macOS, with 15% of detections. On Windows, phishing occupied sixth place, with just 3%.
Surfshark attributes this difference to Mac users’ perception of security. According to the company, the belief that the system is inherently more secure can make this audience more vulnerable to social engineering tactics, rather than traditional malware.
Finally, adware completed the list of significant threats, with 4% of detections on Windows and 3% on macOS. This type of software is usually bundled with free programs and installs itself discreetly, displaying unwanted advertisements when changing web pages or opening extra browser windows.