Microsoft and Google have had a vulnerable 2021, Atlas VPN declares

Microsoft logo
Microsoft logo (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • According to Atlas VPN, Microsoft and Google have had the most amount of vulnerabilities in tech during the first half of 2021.
  • Google rocked a whopping 547 total vulnerabilities, putting it as the pack leader of exposed companies.
  • Microsoft came in second with a still-noteworthy 432 vulnerabilities thanks to situations such as this year's Exchange server chaos.

If you thought all those stories earlier this year regarding Microsoft's various earth-shattering product vulnerabilities weren't going to net it some sort of award by the end of 2021, you thought wrong: Microsoft has officially scored Atlas VPN's silver medal for the most recorded vulnerabilities in the first half of 2021, topped only by gold medalist Google.

You can check out Atlas VPN's post for all the nitty-gritty details on who landed where outside of the podium placements (spoiler: Apple only managed eighth place with an embarrassing 67 vulnerabilities, not even getting close to Microsoft), but we're going to focus on the big winners of the awkward race: Google and Microsoft.

Google came out on top with 547 noted vulnerabilities in the first half of 2021, which Atlas reminds us directly endangers the over three billion Chrome users out there. And, though typically not one to be outdone, Microsoft has only managed a distant second to Google this time around, racking up 432 instances of unwanted exposure. The strong 432 figure was made possible in part by the Microsoft Exchange chaos that gobbled up most of early 2021's news cycle.

Microsoft has made it clear that it's not a fan of being vulnerable and even has various bounties active for those who want to make a buck quashing blindspots for Redmond. It appears more resources will be needed to keep itself off future Atlas VPN lists.

Robert Carnevale

Robert Carnevale is the News Editor for Windows Central. He's a big fan of Kinect (it lives on in his heart), Sonic the Hedgehog, and the legendary intersection of those two titans, Sonic Free Riders. He is the author of Cold War 2395. Have a useful tip? Send it to robert.carnevale@futurenet.com.