Chrome OS Now Second-Most Popular Desktop Operating System

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Chrome OS Now Second-Most Popular Desktop Operating System

For the first time in the annual desktop operating system market share reports, Chrome OS has passed macOS. According to 2020 numbers from market data firm IDC and a report on IDC’s data by publication GeekWire, Microsoft Windows still holds a commanding lead with more than 80 percent market share followed – for the first time – by Chrome OS with 10.8 percent and macOS with 7.5 percent. 

As students in many communities have had to attend class virtually from home and their parents have had to do work remotely, too, PC sales jumped during the year. Chrome OS was a big part of that. The reality is, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about exceptional shipment numbers for the notebook computer industry, with Chromebooks showing the most remarkable growth.

Increase Usage Means Increase Risk

Unfortunately, the door is open for attackers to potentially breach Chromebooks.

Chromebooks aren’t protected by traditional anti-virus solutions, unlike traditional desktops. The methods the “bad guys” use are the exact same methods they use to breach an Android or iOS device.

Meaning – for the school districts providing Chromebooks for remote education – students, teachers and administrators are facing the same privacy and security threats associated with laptops and mobile devices, without the same security measures. 

And while mandated content filtering prevents students from accessing inappropriate websites from their Chromebooks – an outgoing risk –  incoming risks perpetrated by predators or even fellow students are not being addressed.  

These risks and threats include:

  • Bad WiFi: Loss of personal information, including grades and health data.
  • Phishing: Stolen credentials could be used to steal money or even compromise social media accounts.
  • Malicious App: Spyware and other malicious apps could expose data or deliver a device exploit.
  • OS Exploit: Cameras and microphones can be turned on, anytime day or night.
  • Risky App: Private information can be shared without any user knowledge or consent.

zIPS for Chromebooks

zIPS for Chromebooks is the first and only comprehensive, on-device, machine learning-based security solution for Chromebooks. Through the same machine learning-based technology that has been detecting and preventing attacks on millions of iOS and Android endpoints for years, zIPS for Chromebooks: 

  • Identifies and blocks users from accessing phishing sites;
  • Detects malicious Wi-Fi networks and alerts users to disconnect from the network; and
  • Assesses all Android apps for undesired violations of privacy, or unsecure development practice.

zIPS for Chromebook’s on-device design also protects user privacy and provides local, continuous assessments of the endpoint. Additionally, administrators finally have centralized visibility into any attacks. Quick action and events can be correlated and viewed in external SIEM and data collection services.

For more information

To learn more about zIPS for Chromebooks, please contact us

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Author: Chul Yim

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