Why Linux?

[kyleephelps01]

Other than cost (software and maintenance) and flexibility factors what makes Linux more desirable?

I've read and come to understand the essential parts of Linux. I like the fathomable idea that you are in complete control of you OS. On the contrary, Linux is such a customizable OS that it seems to have intimidating (possible) faults, like security. If you are able to completely twist it in your favor can't someone attempting to hack your system do the same. From a non-user it seems that the integrity can easily be compromised, even with Anti virus software. I didn't want to write a book but any information would help on top of browsing for scattered information. Thank you.

[Rubberman]

Other than cost (software and maintenance) and flexibility factors what makes Linux more desirable?

I've read and come to understand the essential parts of Linux. I like the fathomable idea that you are in complete control of you OS. On the contrary, Linux is such a customizable OS that it seems to have intimidating (possible) faults, like security. If you are able to completely twist it in your favor can't someone attempting to hack your system do the same. From a non-user it seems that the integrity can easily be compromised, even with Anti virus software. I didn't want to write a book but any information would help on top of browsing for scattered information. Thank you.

This is one of the myths that Microsoft would like you to believe, that open source software is inherently less secure than proprietary systems such as Windows. This is a fallacy. The principle that it falls under is called "security by obscurity". Anyone who has studied security processes and such even peripherally, knows that this is false security. All the best crypto systems are fully open and vetted by many, many people. Knowledge of the processes or algorithms don't make them any less secure, because the security is not in the code, it is in the underlying algorithms.

This holds true for Linux as well. In all practical senses, Linux is far more secure than Windows for just these reasons.

1. Bugs are exposed and fixed much more rapidly.
2. Design flaws that can be exploited are discovered and rectified more quickly.
3. The fundamental design of the system is more secure. If my user account is hacked, the hacker only has my system privileges, not root/administrator privileges.

As for your comment that since you can modify your system and its behavior, that makes it less secure, sure. If you place a big sign on your front lawn that says "The door is open. Come inside and take what you want." and someone comes in and walks out with your stereo, well, your bad... Windows is kind of like a house with a sign that says "Protected by Really-Bad-Ass-Protection Agency", but leaves the front door unlocked (users with Administrator privileges). Linux with SELinux extensions enabled is like a house with 10ft fence, razor wire, key-coded gate lock, a pack of bad-ass dobermans in the yard, another key-coded lock, plus double-tumbler lock on all the doors, and locked/barred windows, backed up with a direct line to the police if someone manages to get in without proper authentication. Normal Linux is like the same house, but with all the doors and windows locked and secured with a decent intrusion detection system. So, if you leave the front door unlocked and the alarm disabled, someone can walk in and take your 50" big screen TV. Just don't do that!

[GNU-Fan]

Other than cost (software and maintenance) and flexibility factors what makes Linux more desirable?

I simply don't like to be told by companies what I can and what I can't do with my computer.

The other factors (security, price, performance) are more like a welcome byproduct to me.

[alpha-X-geek]

Windows annoyed me more than Linux ever has. Also, it's unlikely you would ever get hacked, as the wannabe hacker would have to somehow discover both your login name and password, as the login name is not visable.

[Rubberman]

Windows annoyed me more than Linux ever has. Also, it's unlikely you would ever get hacked, as the wannabe hacker would have to somehow discover both your login name and password, as the login name is not visable.

Plus it's very easy to disable remote root access. Dictionary attacks of the password for root can be successful in some significant % of the time, but if you disable remote root access, administrator access will not be possible other than with a vulnerability exploit, such as the Phlanx ssh attach recently, which was fixed within 48 hours of its discovery.

[TheBoogyMaster]

which was fixed within 48 hours of its discovery.

That's why OpenSource is better. Linux is not juste an OS its the freedom of the binari world, freedom to change and evolution .

[elija]

Why Linux? Why not?

[techieMoe]

On the contrary, Linux is such a customizable OS that it seems to have intimidating (possible) faults, like security. If you are able to completely twist it in your favor can't someone attempting to hack your system do the same.

I don't understand what you're saying here. With physical access to a machine, any system is vulnerable, sure. However there's a big difference between say, recompiling your own kernel or adding/removing software packages and having someone brute force crack into your system. Linux has security measures in place to handle things like this, not the least of which is the idea that no one other than the root user (administrator) can make changes to any files in the underlying operating system, and regular users are NOT given root privileges (this is something Windows allows by default).

Please elaborate on your statement. What "customizing" are you talking about, and how do you believe a malicious intruder might "twist" these "customizations" to his or her benefit?

From a non-user it seems that the integrity can easily be compromised, even with Anti virus software. I didn't want to write a book but any information would help on top of browsing for scattered information. Thank you.

How so? Explain to me how it "seems" that the system integrity of Linux might be compromised?

[carlosponti]

linux is way more fun than windows.

[kyleephelps01]

Thanks for all the replys on my thread. The most recent post asked what I ment by "custimizing, or twisting". I am a noob to Linux, hence the post in the noobie section. I made a thread based off surface assumptions and common sense, or atleast common sense to me. I like the post about using Linux becuase you don't like to be told what you can or can't do with your OS. That statement, understanding who I am, pretty much sells me on Linux. I'm tired of all the Licenses that need to be purchased and the fact that it's only a "License" and will never truly be yours. Also thanks Rubberman your lengthy explination, it terminated some doubful assumptions about security. The house with all the fences, razors, dogs, laser beams, bouble bolt locks, 24 hour security gaurd, land mine gaurded house sounds much better than a house with a sign saying "We are bad ass, so we left the door open and gave you access to the house". Any more information would be helpful while I start immersing in Linux first hand.