Is Windows more secure than BSD/Gnu/Linux/UNIX?

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But how many people actualy look for the holes in Linux aiming to exploit them? As Linux will become more popular, and I'm sure it will, the number of these people will increase exponentialy. Up to this as one of the reports said, most of the attacks now are not on the operating system level, but rather aimed on the vulnarablities provided by other applications

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you make a very good point here. I agree that as linux become more popular we will se alot more hole and exploits. Every Programming team looks for holes in their stuff, even MS, but we have some of the most alented hackers in the world looking for bugs to exploit, and they arent on the payroll for these companies. Its like trying to proof read a paper after working on it for a few months, it eventually get so close to you that you over look the mistakes becasue you know what its -supposed- to say to your brains thinks it does say that. same with code. you look at it from a bunch of angles and soon those are the only angles you can see, bring some new eyes and bam a new angle is exposed and the code is cracked. First -good- point you have made here nightcat.

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Originally posted here by nightcat
As for the Drivers, I already said that I'll explore this question more indepth. If people couldn't read it first time. Well, now I said it again.

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I said I want a list, not that you should explore it more in depth. You said you already had hardware that didn't come with linux support, all I'm asking is which hardware, which is IMO a perfectly reasonable question.

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Out of the hardware I had issues I can name a Netgear Wireless USB Network Card. It needed a separate download to run on Linux. I'm not sure about now, Hope theyv'e got it sorted by now.

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My system is in general around a year old. Most of the hardware didn't come with Linux drivers.

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So one piece of hardware out of how many? Or is there more?

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But how many people actualy look for the holes in Linux aiming to exploit them? As Linux will become more popular, and I'm sure it will, the number of these people will increase exponentialy. Up to this as one of the reports said, most of the attacks now are not on the operating system level, but rather aimed on the vulnarablities provided by other applications. The link to this report is on on of the first pages of this tread.

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For starters, LOTS of people look at holes in Linux with the aim to exploit them. There have been factually less.
An exploit targeting the kernel is basically used for one of two things -- local privilege escalation or denial of service. Almost all other exploits will occur in the user space. This is why it is more secure.

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And the most secure way of runing your system is not to go online at all :D, but then you don't realy need to update your system at all. Of course you won't be able to get much software for Linux, as it's all distributed through the internet, but that's the backlash of being completely secure ;).

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Incorrect, software for linux can be ordered from a number of places.

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Personaly I think this discussion's over. Many people here seem to know "everything" about PCs, but to forget that an "average Joe" will go with the system which is Stable to write letters and play games and Easy to use and Big Choice of software he can get old style, in the shop.
That's what made me buy Windows when I first started with PCs.

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There's a difference between knowing "everything" and knowing more than nothing about the alternatives to Windows. If you have issue with any of the facts I've stated, feel free to point out the errors. If you dislike my opinion, oh well, you're not the first nor the last.

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Originally posted here by poohsuntzu
No, that's fine. I'm on 2.4 still because of it's stability :) However he was talking in terms of features rather than security related.

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Alright, I misunderstood where you were coming from on that. Thanks for the clarification.

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Of course you won't be able to get much software for Linux, as it's all distributed through the internet, but that's the backlash of being completely secure

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Huh? Have you looked at the software that is included with a linux distro? After you do, then check out the software included with windows. Big difference.

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Personaly I think this discussion's over. Many people here seem to know "everything" about PCs, but to forget that an "average Joe" will go with the system which is Stable to write letters and play games and Easy to use and Big Choice of software he can get old style, in the shop.
That's what made me buy Windows when I first started with PCs.

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I am an "average joe", and I find linux much easier to do these things, surf, e-mail, play games. If you are more comfortable with windows, fine, use it. I will continue to use linux, everybody is happy. :drink:

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I will continue to use linux, everybody is happy.

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I'm not happy, dammit! You owe me a Sweetie Pop, *******! :D

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If you are more comfortable with windows, fine, use it. I will continue to use linux

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Operating Systems are like spouses; choose the one that is best suited for you! Well I guess that makes me a polygamist.

:D

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You owe me a Sweetie Pop

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MsMittens, I am already taken. :p By the way, what is a Sweetie Pop, and where would I get one. If I do get one, you will be the first that I e-mail one to:-)

Actually it makes you a sad sad bastard :) Or not, either way.

..... I have to go with Chsh here, one hardware component doesn't work so nothing does or am I not understanding you?

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Originally posted here by XTC46
you make a very good point here. I agree that as linux become more popular we will se alot more hole and exploits. Every Programming team looks for holes in their stuff, even MS, but we have some of the most alented hackers in the world looking for bugs to exploit, and they arent on the payroll for these companies. Its like trying to proof read a paper after working on it for a few months, it eventually get so close to you that you over look the mistakes becasue you know what its -supposed- to say to your brains thinks it does say that. same with code. you look at it from a bunch of angles and soon those are the only angles you can see, bring some new eyes and bam a new angle is exposed and the code is cracked. First -good- point you have made here nightcat.

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Actually, since more servers run Linux, Linux get's looked at just as much as windows, just when one exploit comes out for windows, 10000000 script kiddies all throw up a variation of a virus for it and stupid (l)users don't update there boxes. Linux has around the same security holes as Windows IMO, it's just that since most people run windows as an admin, anything that can open a cmd shell has total control, whereas a Linux exploit may do about the same thing, but they are stuck with that users priv's and have to use ANOTHER exploit (privledge escalation).

I'm not sure I'd agree with Windows having the same security holes as Linux, how did you mean that exactly though?

or maybe nowadays window is more hacked BECAUSE hacking it is easier than hack linux :)

example:

Linux:
- some one publish a poc about how to hack linux using a buffer overflow and send something like a "hello world" to all tty.
- script kiddie read that and think "geez, i need to build a assembly program to use this tool? no way" and leave.
Windows:
- some one publish a poc about how to hack windows using a web page with a java script. The poc download a .bat that send "hello world".
- script kiddie read that and think "geez, what about to replace this .bat with that evil .bat that ive found on internet but i dont know what exactly it do?" and he DOES.

A lot of windows flaws are so easy to exploit... and there is a lot of girlfriend-less 14 teanagers on internet.... :)