On Sat, Jan 31, 2004 at 02:32:38PM +0100, Norbert Kamenicky wrote: > Peter Wu wrote: > > >> > >>Guy, tell me why unix users don't do that ? (working as root) > > > > > >Because most Unix users have good computer knowledge while most Windows > >users do not know how computers work at all. > > > >Do you admit this fact? > > > > Not at all, I personally maintain some Linux PCs, where > users know nothing more as to use mail client, OOo > and bookkeeping programs. Still no virus problem.
How much percentage of the users that know nothing more as to use mail
client are using Windows?
> >>>I really doubt switching to Linux can stop virii from spreading.
> >>
> >>Ok Tom, how many viruses have been infecting your linux box ?
> >>I only read about them.
> >
> >
> >Because those viruses were written specially against Windows. Well, you
> >would say 'because Windows is very vulnerable'. I have been using Windows
> >and Linux/FreeBSD for more than 10 years, Windows being my major working
> >operating system at office while Linux/FreeBSD is my leisure hour hobby. I
> >have never had any virus ruining my Windows box.
> >
>
> Common, u have them, but they were hidden :-).
You have them on your Linux box, too. You'll sooner or later receive
security alerts from some authorities. I guarantee you.
> >Windows and Linux both have vulnerabilities and it is the appropriate
> >administration that helps avoid disasters.
> >
>
> Yes, I agree, but u must be blind if not see these facts:
>
> 1. It's much easier to search vulnerabilities in source code
> like to debug application/system.
If you mean it's easier to search for vulnerabilities than to debug the
application/system, can you elaborate more on it?
> 2. If one small vulnerability on Linux occures (no exploit yet)
> there are found minimum 10 fatal vulnerabilities on M$hit
> (exploits widely spreaded already).
I don't know if 'small' is proper to describe a vulnerability. If a
vulnerability is found and made use of by some malicious user, the system
will be vulnerable. Even 1 very 'small' vulnerability can bring the system
down.
> 3. Patches on Linux are available very soon, M$hit patches
> after some months if ever.
This is the only part I agree with you. However, it is not the whole
story. If you are a premium customer of Microsoft and you are
experiencing a 'big' security hole, Microsoft is committed to releasing a
security patch within days or even shorter.
Again, I'd like to emphasize that Microsoft is a commercial company not a
charity group. Its goal is to earn money while Linux sets a different
goal. Microsoft creates features that customers demand so that they can
sell their products and make money.
Being a desktop software vendor, Microsoft did not pay enough attention to
the security when writing code and that's why Bill Gates kicked off the
Trustworthy Computing.
There are already so many debates between Open Source & Closed Source.
--
,,,
(o o) Peter Wu
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