The inventor of the Internet regrets the URL setup. Tim Berners-Lee, who created the main software of the World Wide Web, admitted he regrets one thing: Adding “//” after “https:” in a web address. It was standard for programming but didn’t serve any real purpose, and when looking back in 2009, he said leaving it out would have saved time and space. We guess we can forgive him.
100 Mind-Blowing Software Facts
IT Professionals Stress Out About Technology Just Like Everyone Else. Most people think of IT professionals as experts in hardware and software. 31% of them rated “keeping up with technology” as the biggest challenge in the workplace, though. Unsurprisingly, IT professionals constantly deal with new hardware and software. New products and services launch in the IT field every single day. IT professionals who work with multiple companies or clients may find themselves using dozens of different hardware and software solutions. For high-level IT professionals, “impact on work-life balance” takes precedence over technology woes. Many IT professionals pointed out they feel like they’re connected to work 24/7 but wouldn’t choose another profession.
How Many Computer Viruses Are Found Each Day? AV-TEST Institute identifies more than 350,000 new viruses and malicious programs each day. This includes malware, viruses, and unwanted applications. Millions of existing viruses continue to be identified every single day as well. In 2021, AV-TEST estimates a total number of 1191+ million total malware out there. Security researchers and antivirus software providers cannot keep up with the onslaught of new viruses. Creating and releasing a new virus requires little capital and little effort. It can take antivirus software months to catch up with current viruses. Nonetheless, the importance of a capable antivirus program cannot be overstated. Consumers need to protect themselves from viruses whenever possible.
The first commercial text message was sent in 1992. On December 3, 1992, a software architect, Sema Group, used a computer to text “Merry Christmas” to a Vodafone employee who was using an Orbitel 901 handset. These days, over six billion texts are sent per day!
The Apple Lisa was the first commercial computer with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and a mouse. Before The Apple Lisa, all computers were text-based, meaning you had to type out commands from a keyboard. The name “Lisa” stands for “Logical Integrated Software Architecture.” Lisa was also the name of Steve Job’s daughter.
The top five categories for technology are Software; Hardware; Telecom; IT and business services; and Emerging technologies.
So Far, in 2024, The Worldwide Antivirus Software Market has Increased to $4.25 Billion. According to a report from The Businesses Research Company, the worldwide market of Antivirus Software has expanded from $4.06 billion in 2022 to $4.25 billion in 2023. It shows a CAGR rate of 4.5% between the two years for the industry.
ESET Antivirus Blocked More Than 93% of Targeted Hacks in 2022. According to a report, ESET antivirus blocked over 100 million targeted attacks in 2022. In addition, the software stopped over 90% of zero-day attacks last year.
ESET Antivirus Program had the Most Negligible Impact on the Client’s Systems. In a test of false alarms performed on the software, ESET returned only one false positive. TotalAV (4 false positives) followed ESET, then Kaspersky (which returned 5 false positives).
89% of Desktop Users Use Antivirus, in Contrast to 70% of Laptop Users Who Use Antivirus. Interestingly, more desktop users have installed antivirus software programs on their platforms than laptop users. According to Statista, nearly 90% of desktop users have antivirus software on their devices, while 80% of laptop users have antivirus.
Men are the Most Users of Antivirus Software Programs. According to a study from AV-Test, 62% of its users were men, while the remaining 38 were said to be women.
Every Year, the Number of Malware Variants Steadily Decreases. Since 2017, the number of malware variants globally has steadily decreased. The number of malware variations was 669 million but fell to 246 million in 2020. Some causes for this are enhanced antivirus programs and a rise in the use of cloud computing software.
While Free Antivirus Programs are Available, They are Less Effective Than Premium Antivirus Software. While free antivirus programs offer a variety of solutions, they still lack several high-end premium features that paid versions have. Therefore, they are less effective than premium antivirus programs.
The Average Expense of Antivirus Software Programs Per Individual Each Year is $40.60. For various reasons, the average antivirus owner spends between $30 to $100 yearly on their subscription. Some of these include the number of connected devices, the type of antivirus provider, and the subscription length.
More Antivirus Users Prefer the Free to the Paid Version, Globally. Despite its limited features, many antivirus users prefer using the free and limited versions to the paid version of their antivirus software. Some reasons this is so include their perception of security, the type of features in the free version, and the cost of the premium version.
About 30.69 Million Antivirus Customers Used the Platform Daily in 2024. Over 30.69 million antivirus users use their software every day to scan for malicious files and folders. Some software programs run automatically, and some run in the background daily. So far, the most common kinds of malware are ransomware, adware, and Trojans.
The Commercial Sector is the Largest User of Antivirus Software Programs, Followed by the Government and Consumer Sectors. In 2022, the commercial sector accounted for 54.3% of the antivirus software market globally. The government segment followed with a 22.1% market share, while the consumer sector accrued 23.6%.
About 1.3 Billion Smartphones have Antivirus Software Installed. With the increasing number of malware on smartphone devices, there is a growth in users’ awareness of the need for updated antivirus apps. In 2013, there were 325 million smartphones with antivirus apps installed, but that number has grown to 1.3 billion smartphones with antivirus apps.
The Firewall and Antivirus Industry Valuation is More Than $37 Billion. The firewall and antivirus software industry is worth over $37 billion. It is a wild increase from the 2020s valuation of $28 billion.
According to Avast Antivirus Statistics, 55% of Computer Antivirus Software Globally is Outdated. While many would like to claim to have installed a functional antivirus program on their devices, reports show that many individuals are still prone to attacks. Recent research by Avast showed that many users still have outdated software running on their computers.
McAfee, ZoneAlarm, and Kaspersky Record the Highest Detection Rate Among Antivirus Software Programs. A test was conducted on 24 antivirus software with many malware. Impressively, McAfee, Kaspersky, and ZoneAlarm detected all the malware samples.
Approximately 33 Million Businesses in the United States Used Paid Versions of Antivirus Software in 2023. Approximately 33 million businesses use premium antivirus software to improve Internet security, password management, and secure browsing. The report from 2022 shows that 25 million businesses use premium antivirus software today.
It may be the biggest free software project now (see #1) but when the very first kernel was released back in 1991 it was made up of a comparatively minuscule 10k lines of code — baby Linux!
Linux is the most famous example of open source software but did you know that it wasn’t always that way? Early versions of Linux were distributed with a license forbidding commercial use or redistribution. It was version 0.12, released in 1992, that saw Linus adopt the GPL, making his code freely available to all.
Linux is the largest software project on the planet, where a huge number of developers and companies collaborate remotely.
Linux has a specific place in Hollywood. The Visual effects of Avatar and Titanic were developed on the Linux platform in 3D applications using the FOSS software.
Linus Never Intended to Make Money Out of Linux: As a strong advocate for open-source software, Linux never intended to commercialize Linux. In fact, as a hobby project, Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, never envisioned making a profit from his groundbreaking operating system. When he started working on Linux in 1991, his primary motivation was to develop a free and open-source alternative to proprietary Unix systems. Torvalds released Linux under the GNU General Public License, ensuring that it would always remain open for anyone to use, modify, and distribute freely. This commitment to openness and collaboration led to rapid growth and popularity over the years to become one of the most essential operating systems in the IT world.
The First Commercial Linux Distribution: Yggdrasil is the first commercial Linux distribution and was released in Live CD format on 8, December 1992, offering a unique blend of open-source software and a user-friendly interface for sale, marking a significant milestone in the history of Linux. Yggdrasil incorporated the X Window System and provided a graphical user environment when Linux was primarily command-line-based. Although it faced competition from free Linux distributions, its pioneering approach paved the way for the commercialization of Linux and the development of more user-friendly distributions in the years that followed.
Linux Powers a Multitude of Devices: Nowadays, Linux runs on almost anything: servers, desktops, smartphones, smart watches, etc. Almost every hand-held device has a Linux kernel at the core of its operating system. Linux’s open-source nature allows developers to customise it for different devices and software needs, making it a widely used operating system in the world.
Acquisition of Red Hat: In July 2019, IBM finalized its acquisition of Red Hat, marking a significant milestone with a hefty investment of nearly $34 billion. Red Hat holds a prominent position as the leading Enterprise Linux distributor in the server market. This strategic move solidified IBM’s commitment to expanding its presence in the open-source software arena and harnessing Red Hat’s expertise to enhance its capabilities in providing enterprise solutions and cloud services.
Ubuntu: The Global Leader in Linux Desktop Adoption: Ubuntu‘s status as the most popular Linux desktop globally can be largely attributed to its clean, simple, and intuitive user interface, ensuring a seamless user experience. This appeal makes it particularly well-suited for newcomers to the Linux world or Windows users making the transition to Linux. Ubuntu’s user-friendly design, combined with its extensive software ecosystem and strong community support, has established it as a go-to choice for those seeking an approachable and efficient introduction to the Linux operating system.
Linux Is Extremely Versatile: Modern Linux desktop distros provide applications that allow you to perform virtually any operation including software development, browsing, graphic design, video editing, gaming, entertainment, and much more. This versatility extends to entertainment options, making it a one-stop solution for diverse needs. Whether you’re a professional or a casual user, Linux’s rich ecosystem ensures you can perform virtually any operation efficiently, contributing to its growing popularity in the desktop computing world.
An Asteroid Named in Honor of Linus Torvalds: Linus Torvalds, the renowned creator of the Linux kernel, received a unique and celestial honour when an asteroid was named after him. This astronomical recognition symbolizes his significant contributions to the world of open-source software and technology. The asteroid named “9793 Torvalds” serves as a testament to Torvalds’ enduring impact on the tech industry and the global community of Linux enthusiasts, solidifying his legacy not only on Earth but also among the stars.
Linux Visual Effects in Titanic and Avatar: For those who doubt Linux’s capabilities in animation, consider this: the Oscar-winning visual effects of James Cameron’s legendary film “Titanic” were crafted using Linux-powered machines. Even more impressively, “Avatar“, Cameron’s groundbreaking 3D cinematic masterpiece, marked the last movie to be entirely developed on a Linux platform using Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) applications.
GPT-3 has been fine-tuned for a variety of language tasks, such as translation, summarisation, and question-answering. Even service desk software can leverage AI capabilities to process requests and enhance the quality of responses.
The computational and training costs to develop and maintain the software can be extraordinarily high.
By 2025, global AI software is expected to hit $100 billion. Others estimate that the market value by the same year would reach $126 billion.
One of the main – and most critical – problems of AI is that even its creators can’t understand some of the decisions AI software makes and why.