When the score is something like 236,000 to 7, you can expect the side that’s winning to really brag about the score. But, when it comes to viruses, it’s usually the 7 that’s considered winning. So why is Microsoft touting the fact that it’s the 236,000? Good question.

In a recent Microsoft Malware Protection Center blog entry, Microsoft provides all sorts of interesting details about data that has come back from their recently introduced Microsoft Security Essentials product. The fact that Microsoft felt it had to ship this free product that it claims “provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software” is telling in-and-of itself. The data that comes back from the product makes it pretty clear why the product is needed:

1. •1.5 million downloads of the software in the first week
   

2. •500,000+ machines with infections (over 1/3 of all machines!)
   

3. •4 million distinct “detections” of malware (8 per infected machine)
   

4. •6 different “threat families” with over 10,000 infections in each of three countries (U.S., Brazil and China)
   

5. •Half of the threats detected on Windows XP, 1/3 on Vista and still 1/6 on Windows 7.
   

What does all this data mean, besides that there are an absurd number of viruses on all Windows platforms, and why is Microsoft bragging about it? Good questions. We’re pretty sure it means you should Get a Mac!