According to researchers at the SANS Internet Storm Center (ISC), an unpatched PC will last in the wilds of the Web less than four minutes before being attacked and compromised. That’s faster than most people can run a mile, and as ISC’s Survival Time sitepoints out, faster than it takes to download most patches. The ISC has an interactive graph showing the rise and recent plummet of unpatched systems’ survival times, and offers tips for users setting up new machines.
Created in 2001 the ISC posts color coded intrusion threat levels (today is green) and provides “free analysis and warning service to thousands of Internet users.” The volunteer organization, says its efforts are similar to weather forecasters in that analysts monitor data in order to provide early warning for upcoming “storms” in their areas.