We need a new OS. One that is more secure than ANYTHING we've made before. Still, who could program something like that? It would take a real genius with computer coding to pull that off.
So far, the most secure operating system I know of is Linux. The reason it's so secure is due to permissions. You see, no program on Linux that wants to change something at the system level can run without your explicit permission through the use of a password. Anything involving changing the system requires this password.
This isn't so in Windows. In Windows, it is deliberately designed to allow third party programmers to run stuff on Windows without the users' permission. The purpose wasn't really to increase the users' vulnerability to viruses, but to allow the user to have a more refreshing experience by having cool stuff happen. Something like that. But such an act is why Windows is so vulnerable to viruses.
With Linux, due to the need of a password, software (such as installing programs, or launching programs that may change the OS at the system level) can't run unless you tell it to. For instance, in order to install a new game, you need a password. And to uninstall it, a password. If I wanted to open up the built-in firewall, I need a password. If I want to install updates, a password. Yes this does sound annoying and redundant, however this password system is why Linux is safer than Windows. Windows viruses will not work on Linux (obviously) so it's safe to download any file no matter how infected it is. While you can install an emulation of the Windows kernal (Wine), the system itself will not be damaged.
Linux viruses are almost unheard of due to how hard it would be to program one. A Linux virus would need to be run from root (equivalent of Windows' admin) to do any real damage). And of the Linux viruses that are made, they are easily made useless through updates. Unlike Windows, Linux updates far more often, quickly sealing up any new security loopholes. And unlike Windows, Linux is open source, meaning any one with enough computer knowledge and programming skills can look through the code and help spot security bugs and other issues and help fix them. Oh and with Linux, while you can get an antivirus, because of how hard it is for Linux to get viruses, you don't need an antivirus software installed.
Windows is run by a corporation who want money, and charge a huge sum of money to buy their operating system and programs. Linux is free and is run by a community who want a safer operating system with more efficient programs, nearly all of which are completely free of charge to download. Right now I'm only running Windows out of necessity, but if I could find a way to run what I want to on Linux and be sure that all my hardware stuff works, you'd bet I'd switch to Linux.