Linux users skip updates for fear of breakage from kernel, Mesa, systemd, and driver updates. LinuxInsider reports that outdated kernels often sit unpatched for months because admins and users fear downtime or breakage from updates. This is directly tied to Linux’s fragmented ecosystem and unstable kernel APIs, which make updates more risky than on Windows.

The same report notes that slow patching cycles and manual barriers cause users to postpone updates, even when critical vulnerabilities are known.

LinuxTeck highlights that many Linux users believe Linux is "immune," which leads them to skip patching, skip monitoring, and skip hardening, which is exactly the behavior that leaves systems vulnerable to known exploits, privilege‑escalation CVEs, and ransomware; risks that Windows users avoid because Windows updates are more stable and more consistently applied.