How Secure is Linux
January 25th, 2008
The facilitation of the spread of malware is made more possible when a software is widely used thus maximizing the number of those that can be infected. Slowly patched software also maximizes the time the malware remains effective while maximizing development effort for new ones. Monolithic software or that which has no compartmentalization of components likewise maximizes the damage a malware can do.
Linux has a small user base that discourages malware development, rapid updates that neutralize new threats and a compartmentalized structure that isolates damaged sections. There have been file viruses that were written specifically for Linux but none have yet been propagated successfully. Proponents of Linux believe that they have a more secure platform because all the codes are reviewed by so many people that a bug easily becomes visible. Such is the principle behind the so-called Linus’ Law.