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Is Linux as Secure as We'd Like to Think?

Posted by Cliff on from the is-the-emperor-wearing-clothes dept.

man_of_mr_e asks: "With all the recent brouhaha about Blaster and Sobig, there's been a lot of talk about how poor Windows security is, especially compared to the Linux we all know and love. But is this really true? The website defacement archive at Zone-h shows that Linux accounts for 61% of the defacements in the last 24 hours (note, this figure changes, so it might be different when you view it). An analysis of the last few weeks of their archive shows a similar percentage of exploited Linux systems. Note also that the 'Unknown' category is rather high, and certainly contains at least some Linux systems, further increasing the percentage. Why is this? Are we just deluding ourselves about our own security? Could there be a Linux 'Blaster' just waiting to happen?" While "defacements" don't necessarily mean "root level break-in", sometimes getting your foot in the door is enough. If this happens, wouldn't Linux then be just as exploitable as Windows? Are there other reasons why the likelihood of a "Sobig" or an "ILUVYOU" would be lower for Linux than Windows?

2 of 1,091 comments (clear)

  1. it's called MSBlaster, not Blaster. by rokzy · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    understand the reason and you'll answer your question.

  2. Re:Here's my rant on human stupidity... by SonOfThor · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    As a technical person who communicates well with non-technical people, I have to say that the failure of communication is almost always with the technical person.

    Being more concerned with being seen as smart and informed than actually providing coherent information, spending too much time on irrelevant details instead of providing step-by-step instructions on what has to be done, geek inferiority complexes leading to arch, grating deliveries, a failure to listen and understand the end-users needs - I've seen it all. And I've almost never met an end-user type whose technical behaviour I wasn't able to amend for the better.


    People like you are rare treasures and should be put to use in the best possible way: HELP DESK!!!

    BUBHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!

    Kinda makes me glad that I'm not as gifted as you are.. I might be a little saddened to realize that my best fit is a job at a help desk.

    Toodles.