"In TechRepublic discussions about the virtues of Linux
vs. Windows, Linux enthusiasts love to point out that their OS is
much more secure. They complain that Windows and its applications
are full of bugs and poorly written code and that Windows is more
susceptible to viruses.
Of course, administrators who work primarily with Windows take
exception to these arguments. They believe that Windows can be
secured just as well as any other operating system and that Windows
is simply targeted more often because its use is so widespread.
One way to get to the bottom of this dispute is to look at the
numbers. In this case, let's examine the statistics on discovered
vulnerabilities tracked by Security Focus Bugtraq. One word of
warning: These numbers may just surprise you."