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**Antkin** · Feb 27, 2008, 05:41 PM

Re: Linus v Windows

Linux v Windows

Microsoft Windows is much more vulnerable to attack than other common operating systems such as MAC or Linux. One reason is that from a security point of view it simply isn't as well put together.

It is possible that email and browser-based viruses, Trojans and worms are the source of the myth that Windows is attacked more often than Linux. Clearly there are more desktop installations of Windows than Linux. It is certainly possible, if not probable, that Windows desktop software is attacked more often because Windows dominates the desktop. But this leaves an important question unanswered. Do the attacks so often succeed on Windows because the attacks are so numerous, or because there are inherent design flaws and poor design decisions in Windows?

Linux facts

Fewer viruses
More stable
Less restarts after installing updates
Security designed from the ground up
Open Source, no costly programs to install
Better file system, no waiting for defragmentation of the hard drive

Linux has no technical support by my ISP Virgin Media yet it works on their cable network, these pages are written by a Linux user with a broadband cable connection.

Linux is suited to a Ethernet modem connector (RJ45) this is found on the back of a Surfboard 5100 modem for example. The other end plugs into your network connection or card on the back of your case/laptop.

Ethernet Routers versus USB Modems

If you have a broadband connection and use a USB modem to connect with, the risks are much greater than if you use an Ethernet router. Unfortunately, most people do use USB modems as they are cheaper to buy, and many ISP's even give them away free to new customers.

So what's the difference? Well with a USB modem your computer is directly connected to the Internet and can be seen by ' port scanners' looking for vulnerable PCs to attack. Unless you have a Firewall for protection then your PC is wide open and will soon become infected with different pieces of malicious software.

Routers on the other hand give increased security as they use NAT (Network Address Translation). With NAT your computer connects only to the router, and it is the router that connects to the Internet, hiding your PC and acting as a buffer. Most routers (including those supplied by The Phone Co-op) also come with a built-in firewall, providing extra security.

Routers also take the load off your PC, give a faster connection in certain instances, and can have more than one port or socket, allowing you to share the Internet connection between more than one computer or other device. All-in-all they are a much better option.

Antony Perkin

http://internetsecurity4free.com

**cantab** · Feb 29, 2008, 04:52 AM

Re: Linus v Windows

Linux machines tend to have different types of vulnerabilities to Windows ones. Windows-like viruses are pretty much unknown. There's a greater amount of heterogeneity in Unix systems, so more usual is that a hacker must directly attack a specific machine 'by hand', although they may be able to write scripts to test for certain vulnerabilities. Once a hacker has obtained root access, they can hide themselves very well by installing a 'rootkit'.

These attacks tend to be against server software. The average user's desktop machine should have very few services available to the internet (ssh, and p2p protocols if you must). You can use a firewall, but it's better to just make sure unnecessary services aren't running. The main other attack vectors are the web browser (particularly plugins), and social engineering. Be wary of obscure binary-only software that's not in the repos, especially if the website instructs you to run it as root.

**Antkin** · Mar 01, 2008, 01:55 AM

Re: Linus v Windows

Cantab

Thank you for your post, I found it very interesting. I run 4 Ubuntu desktops and 1 Kubuntu desktop. Please advise me on what services I can disable?

Antkin

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Linus v Windows

Linus v Windows

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