Download Windows vs.. Linux Security - Montclair State University

Windows vs.. Linux
Security
A comparison
Challenges in evaluating Windows
and Linux

A Subset of
Microsoft's Offerings
Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows
2000, Windows 2003 Server, and
Windows CE

Linux distributions
Vary by the Linux kernel release each is
based on (e.g., 2.2, 2.4, and 2.6) and
the versions of all the packages each
contains.
Philosophical differences in the
design of Linux and Windows

The Windows operating system is designed to support applications
by moving more functionality into the operating system, and by more
deeply integrating applications into the Windows kernel.

Linux differs from Windows in providing a clear separation between
kernel space and user space
Capabilities
Linux vs. Windows Viruses

There are about 60,000
viruses known for
Windows

There are about 5 for
commercial Unix
versions, and around 40
for Linux
Win32,Linux/Simile.D is a very complex virus that uses entry-point obscuring,
metamorphism, and polymorphic decryption. The virus contains no destructive payload,
but infected files may display messages on certain dates.
Jack Clarke, European product manager at McAfee, said, "So we will be seeing more Linux
viruses as the OS becomes more common and popular."
Open Source Software




The availability of the source code and the right to modify
The right to redistribute modifications and improvements to the code
The right to use the software in any way
Linux
Linux is licensed under the GNU General Public License

Windows ("look but don't touch." )
Microsoft's Shared Source Initiative is an attempt
to meet customer requirements for looking at
source code.
Shared Source Initiative has one million participants, and source
code is available for Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server
2003, Windows CE 3.0, Windows CE .Net, and the C#/CLI
implementations, as well as components of ASP .Net and Visual
studio .Net. Shared Source Initiative licensees include corporate
customers, governments, partners, academics, and individuals.
Can a frustrated Windows user dump
Microsoft?



Even with lots of improvements, Linux is still no
cakewalk.
Games
Software ( Photoshop, Accounting, etc.)