Windows and Linux are the two most popular operating systems. However, the number of Windows users is much more than the number of Linux users. That is because Windows is easier to use and more user friendly. On the other hand, Linux is more used by the professionals as it is a little difficult to use and it is more powerful for using in serious tasks like networking and security issues. Windows has comparatively weaker security system.
Another reason for the difference of security levels between these two is that Linux is an open source program. The code is open for all and the developers work on different issues of this operating system. Thousands of programmers from all over the world work on the security of Linux and that makes it almost unbreakable. The picture is opposite for Windows. Instead of opening the source code to its worldwide users, Microsoft keeps it a secret and that attracts the programmers to try and penetrate inside the Windows security systems. Here are some important issues to measure the security of Windows and Linux.
Methods to measure security of Linux and Windows
Malware: Last year, over 2 million of malware programs were reported in different Windows OS, whereas the number is only a few thousands in Linux. The Linux malware were mainly designed to test and solve security issues of this OS to make them more secure in the servers. But the Windows malware were used to gain information like password, credit card number, financial record etc. from the servers and user end computers. The number and type of attacks tells about the security difference between them. Linux is even so secure that some of the Windows based networks run the packet data through a Linux based server to detect any possible malware.
Bug fixing: For fixing any bug in a Windows operating system, the users have to depend on the system engineers of Microsoft. In case of a bug, the user has to report to Microsoft about it and they will fix it with a patch or program in the next month. The update comes only once in a month, but for Linux, the solution for a bug comes in one day or two at the most. This is possible because of the open source system. Instead of waiting for others, a professional can fix a bug he finds by himself.
Control: In Windows, the user controls over the total settings in the OS which is easy to gain. During the installation process, Windows requires to create at least one or more user, and they all gain administrator level privileges. So if the user does not create a standard user account with limited access, the computer runs under the administrator level accounts. This increases the vulnerability of the computer to numerous malware and similar attacks.
In case of Linux, it requires creating two users at least and only one works as administrator. This is a very effective way to prevent malicious attacks from the beginning. The user specified control is restricted in Linux to increase its security level.