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Story: How to talk to Microsoft about Linux

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Posted by: Michael Kingston (Monday 14 June 2004, 5:13 PM)

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I am sorry to have to be the one to break your bubble about Linux being more secure than Windows.... But when you mentioned this:

"How many of the viruses that have hit the Internet this year have taken advantage of vulnerabilities in Linux? "

You should very well know that not even 1 percent of the worlds PC's run any type of Linux operating system, as compared to Microsoft's Windows, which runs on more than 90% of PCs around the world.

The reason Microsoft has more security threats is because with more than 500 million people using Microsoft Windows, it is the major target for virus developers and hackers because of the obvious reason, more impact.

Why would anyone care (except for hackers who are dedicated to have something hacked) to make a virus for Linux when they can make an impact that would be 90 times bigger, on an operating system such as Windows?

By the way, considering the fact that Microsoft Windows is closed-source, if Linux were to go mainstream, as you clearly recommend, anyone who can issue a couple programming commands would be able to find flaws in the open-source Linux software. So, in reality, if Linux had 90% of the operating system market we would be having hundreds "critical" updates being released by our vendors and community support. That's if all of that is possible to manage.

Hackers and virus makers manage to find a way to discover exploits on a closed-source system, just imagine if they had the source code to Windows. Because in this case, they have the source code to Linux.

Thank you.
Mike

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Full Talkback thread

Story: How to talk to Microsoft about Linux

  1. I am sorry to have to be the one to break your bub... Michael Kingston
  2. Hey Michael Kingston! You should check your f... Another 'Linux Zealot'
  3. this is the first time ive posted here, i don... kre
  4. Well, sorry to burst your own bubble, but I'm afra... Mathias De Maré
  5. That isn't true. Windows isn't secure and it has t... Anonymous
  6. Oh, and something I forgot to mention: the fact th... Mathias De Maré
  7. i'm sorry Mike, but you need to learn and use Linu... Edward
  8. Linux is the kind of operating system that has suc... J Hill
  9. "You should very well know that not even 1 percent... paleo
  10. All these arguments about security and which OS is... Allister Jenks
  11. There is much ignorance about the issue of Linux a... Henry G
  12. Actually, its the arrogant attitude of superiority... Anonymous
  13. This article is interestingly biased towards Linux... Derek R.
  14. haha this is getting funny. Whoever posted this an... Raab
  15. This is a crazy article, so obviously biased that... John Allen
  16. I agree with John Allen. This article was poorly g... David Wright
  17. Sigh... It's a straightforward article really. Ask... Arthur B.
  18. To Anonymous USA, the network administrator. We ar... Jack Mac
  19. Don't forget to ask about the cost of CAL (client... Dan Kegel
  20. Not to mention, on the interoperability front Can... Anonymous
  21. I like the idea that one linux club came up with.... Jerry Watson
  22. Since we seem to be having a Linux Vs Windows deba... Ben Noble
  23. Oh, and to illustrate my point about the User Inte... Ben Noble
  24. I am going to introduce you all to a concept that... Anonymous
  25. After reading these messages, you see M$ shills sp... Kiko
  26. Wow Derek. Spokken like someone who chooses someth... Jeff Stone
  27. Just a response to Kiko's message.... "Newsflash:... Ben Noble
  28. Cheri
  29. Response to Ben Noble - I believe your aversion to... David Morgan
  30. Ben Noble - As for example provided... It is not a... David Morgan
  31. Mike believes that the "reason Microsoft has more... Qaz Zaq
  32. I have used Windows 95, NT, 98, NT4, 98se, Me, 200... Qaz Zaq
  33. Hmm, I use both. I've been around personal compute... jimcooncat
  34. Dear: Ben Noble I would like to thank you, I find... Samuel Warren
  35. "My point is, that Windows is more user friendly,... Ben Noble
  36. I just read this web page: http://www.microsoft.co... Ian MacGregor
  37. It's just beginning! Kikki Bona Sijabat
  38. I'd like to tell microsoft a idea i had and was th... Anonymous
  39. we have been using the internet and this sign abou... Anonymous
  40. Site - very comprehensive and meticulous from all... Phentermine

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