Will Linux's growing popularity be its downfall?

[tommytabib]

In time wont linux, if it keeps growing in popularity, become just like windows?

Wont people start making lots of viruses for linux and then wont people have to make anti-virus programs, and eventually people will start to sell anti-virus programs instead of giving them free.

And then the whole world will explode :o

Umm heh, anyways i was just looking for what others think Linux's growing popularity will do to linux in the long run - good or bad?

[fingal]

Who knows? The future is impossible to predict, but sometimes the clues are in the present. Linux is doing well: particularly on servers. In the UK Government organisations are very interested in the potential cost savings afforded by Linux, but generally in combination with Windows on the desktop.

It's some of the 'nerdy' feel it once had ... From a UK perspective, there are some organisations out to promote Linux use from a business angle. The city I live in is hosting the international Gnome conference (lots of little guys in colourful clothes and pointy hats ) ...

If it ends up like Windows it won't be Linux anymore because the kernel will not be an open source project. Open source is here to stay because - and this is just my pet theory - it's an evolutionary thing. Human beings are reaching for the stars, and I think open source (separately from the Linux OS) is part of that process ...

[techieMoe]

In time wont linux, if it keeps growing in popularity, become just like windows?

In what way? Let's have a look at what characteristics define "Microsoft Windows":

It's made by one company. This simply can't happen with Linux due to the fact that it's based on code that anyone in the world can take, modify, and release.

It's closed-source. See number 1.

It costs a lot of money. Although some Linux distributions could start charging a lot for their OS, most people will simply download the free alternative distributions instead.

Can you be more specific as to what you think Linux might "become" when it's "like Windows"?

Wont people start making lots of viruses for linux and then wont people have to make anti-virus programs, and eventually people will start to sell anti-virus programs instead of giving them free.

No. Do I think people will eventually start writing malicious code for Linux? Sure. However the inherent differences in the way the Linux OS is designed makes writing massively exploitable, automated code like we see in MS Windows very difficult to create. There have been many threads explaining this in more detail.

Not to mention that the code to 99% of all the programs that come with most Linux distributions is completely open-source. It's a lot harder to make a program that exploits a hole if thousands of developers around the world can find the hole and patch it.

Will people eventually start making antivirus programs for Linux? Yes, many already do. Will they ever start charging? Probably. Will anyone necessarily need to pay for them? Probably not.

Umm heh, anyways i was just looking for what others think Linux's growing popularity will do to linux in the long run - good or bad?

I seem to be saying this a lot lately: I don't care. If Linux becomes more popular, great. If not, it still works for most of us. I don't think there's a war going on where Linux has to beat down the Microsoft masses. Operating systems are just software.

[carlosponti]

i would assume that maybe there are only a small number of authentic virus in existence the rest are copies of those and written by script kiddies that only know windows as well.

[Roxoff]

...I don't think there's a war going on where Linux has to beat down the Microsoft masses. Operating systems are just software.

There is a war though - Windows has to beat Linux. Microsoft has far too much riding on the operating system to allow Linux to take over. It's clear that those producing Linux have the same sensible attitude you've shown towards Windows: that they dont care what MS's market share is, and dont give two hoots about competition, because they're not in it for the profit. It makes it really hard for MS to keep up the fight against an opponent that not only wont fight back, but completely ignores any attacks.

[Vergil83]

Open source is here to stay because - and this is just my pet theory - it's an evolutionary thing. Human beings are reaching for the stars, and I think open source (separately from the Linux OS) is part of that process ...

That is just a perfect sentiment. I only wish I was that elegant a writer.

[fingal]

That is just a perfect sentiment. I only wish I was that elegant a writer.

Thank you very much! Your kind words are appreciated.

[CodeRoot]

It makes it really hard for MS to keep up the fight against an opponent that not only wont fight back, but completely ignores any attacks.

"It's a wonderful thing..."

[oz]

In time wont linux, if it keeps growing in popularity, become just like windows?

In my opinion, there are too many differences between Linux and Windows for them to ever become just alike. That said, I do believe that some companies that try to sell Linux could become somewhat like Microsoft if their product should ever become the most used OS in the world.

[Krendoshazin]

I'm sure there are many kiddies out there who would love to make a virus for Gnu/Linux, but if that was going to happen and have any significant effect it would have happened already.

The fact is Gnu/Linux is secure, a normal user has no access outside of their own home directory, there's only a few "proof-of-concept" viruses around and they rely on the user having permission to put the binary in /bin and also have write access to those files, something that should never be possible in a default configuration.
The open nature of Gnu/Linux isn't a problem either, Apache is open and sits on roughly 80% of webservers yet suffers less successful attacks than IIS, which happens to be proprietary, so it's neither popularity nor openess that define a successful attack.

We employ a lot of tactics to make sure we don't get anything we shouldn't, MD5 hash checking exists so we know that the file we get is the same file the site intended us to have right down to a single byte. On most distros these days they have repositories of software that allow the user to install software in a single command/click, not only is this easier in terms of installation, it's also safer than a user picking up the package themselves and installing it.

If I ran a virus here and now the only thing I'd loose is the contents of my home directory, and if I keep backups, where's the problem? So even in a worst case scenario of getting infected their attempts are laughable, I'd just log in as root, wipe the entire home directory and untar the backup.