Windows vs Linux On Security

e8johan writes "NewsFactor is running an article asking whether Linux really is more secure that Windows. I'd say that they miss to point out that Microsofts Office suite combined with VBA scripting makes Windows more insecure than anything I've ever seen, but they do make some good points, especially when discussing Open Source and security."

Comments

I trust Linux's security implicitly

[PhysicsGenius]

I use it at home and I've never discovered a breakin. But when I tried to use it at work, I got shut down real fast. I have a high-sensitivity position at a Big National Laboratory (if you follow me) and our security needs to pass federal muster every 3 months. When I told the inspector that I was planning to install Linux to replace Windows 2000, he about had a heart attack.

The inspector related that the government's tests had indicated Linux was pretty weak on security. Apparently they feel that the open (he called it "promiscuous") development model meant that there were no controls, verification or even logged history of who checked what in, meaning that terrorists or spies could have planted trojans in there. (He also had problems with the stability, but that's not really a security issue so he couldn't make me deinstall for that).

Anyway, I obviously lodged a protest but it came right back with a stamp on it: "Linux is not being considered until the development model is safe." I guess they get a lot of requests like mine.