NewsFactor: Is Linux Really More Secure Than Windows?

“Microsoft has organized a huge security program as a result of
vocal complaints from users, while the Linux effort is, in Eric
Hemmendinger’s words, ‘less disciplined but more timely.’

“Ramen, Slapper, Scalper and Mighty may sound like Santa’s new
team of reindeer, but they are creatures far lower down the
evolutionary ladder–and much less welcome. These are worms that
have infiltrated Linux servers in recent months, commandeering the
servers for use in distributed denial-of-service attacks. Linux
enthusiasts who once believed they were less vulnerable to attack
than Microsoft users have begun to wonder whether they were overly
optimistic.

“But it is a mistake to think that one operating environment is
inherently more risky than another, according to Eric Hemmendinger,
research director at Aberdeen Group. The number of security flaws
in software, he said, depends largely on the software’s age…”

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