I'm currently writing my dissertation which is about Linux security, and more specifically innate security vs user awareness of security. Part of my project is original research, for which I am using questionnaires. I would really appreciate it if anyone could take the time to fill one out. They should take about a minute or two (or less!) to finish as there are only 13 questions.

There are two questionnaires below, the top one is simply for anyone who uses Linux (regardless of ability or time they have used it for) and the second is for people who use Linux as part of their jobs. So its just one questionnaire or the other.

Feel free to reply here or to PM me. All data is completely confidential and I don't need to know your name or where you work or anything personal whatsoever.

I'm sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong place, but nowhere else seemed right.

Thanks!

Personal questionnaire:

1.Which operating system do you use most of the time?


2.How would you rate yourself as a computer user?
Novice Average Experienced Expert


3.Do you have, or are you currently studying for, a degree or other qualification(s) in computing? If another qualification, please feel free to specify what it is.


4.How would you rate yourself as a Linux user?
Novice Average Experienced Expert

5.Which security settings would you change on a new install of Linux? (If any)


6.Are you aware of any security flaws in Linux? Please feel free to specify what they are.


7.How many years Linux experience do you have?


8.Do you use a firewall on your Linux computer(s)?


9.Do you use anti-malware software on your Linux computer(s)?


10.Do you use a firewall/anti-malware software on non-Linux computers?


11.How many notable security issues have you had with Linux? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.



12.How many notable security issues have you had with any other operating system? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.


13.Do you personally feel that Linux is a more secure operating system than others?


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Professional:

1.How many years have you used Linux for?


2.How would you rate yourself as a Linux user?

Novice Average Experienced Expert

3.Do you have root access on your Linux System?


4.Which security settings would you change on a new install of Linux? (if any)


5.Are you aware of any security flaws in Linux? Please feel free to specify what they are.


6.What rules and regulations does your company have which are directly related to Linux security?


7.How many years Linux experience do you have?


8.For how many years have you used Linux in a professional setting?


9.How many notable security issues have you had with Linux? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.


10.How many notable security issues have you had with any other operating system? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.


11.Do you use a firewall on your Linux computer(s)?


12.Do you use anti-malware software on your Linux computer(s)?


13.Do you personally feel that Linux is a more secure operating system than others?

You really should have a made a simple Form based website for this. http://www.jotform.com/

[QUOTE=Mupple;4281801]
1.Which operating system do you use most of the time?
Fedora
2.How would you rate yourself as a computer user?
Experienced
3.Do you have, or are you currently studying for, a degree or other qualification(s) in computing? If another qualification, please feel free to specify what it is.
No
4.How would you rate yourself as a Linux user?
Experienced
5.Which security settings would you change on a new install of Linux? (If any)
I generally turn off IPtables and SElinux immediately
6.Are you aware of any security flaws in Linux? Please feel free to specify what they are.
If you can touch the server, you can break into the server.
7.How many years Linux experience do you have?
8ish linux, 10ish unix.
8.Do you use a firewall on your Linux computer(s)?
No. I only use hardware firewalls.
9.Do you use anti-malware software on your Linux computer(s)?
No
10.Do you use a firewall/anti-malware software on non-Linux computers?
Yes, have to.
11.How many notable security issues have you had with Linux? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.
Not many. Never a break in. DoS at most.
12.How many notable security issues have you had with any other operating system? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.
To get a point accross at lectures, i would connect an unpatched XP machine to the internet. By the end of the lecture (1 to 2 hours) it was guaranteed to be breeched.
13.Do you personally feel that Linux is a more secure operating system than others?
Yes

The second survey seemed too much like the first so I did not answer any of those questions.d

1.Which operating system do you use most of the time?
Linux/Ubuntu

2.How would you rate yourself as a computer user?
Novice Average Experienced Expert
Average

3.Do you have, or are you currently studying for, a degree or other qualification(s) in computing? If another qualification, please feel free to specify what it is.
No

4.How would you rate yourself as a Linux user?
Novice Average Experienced Expert
Average
5.Which security settings would you change on a new install of Linux? (If any)
None

6.Are you aware of any security flaws in Linux? Please feel free to specify what they are.
Not aware of any specific security flaws

7.How many years Linux experience do you have?
4 years

8.Do you use a firewall on your Linux computer(s)?
Use software firewall when connected to wireless network. At home, I am behind a router with firewall.

9.Do you use anti-malware software on your Linux computer(s)?
No

10.Do you use a firewall/anti-malware software on non-Linux computers?
Yes, real-time av, an on-demand anti-malware and windows firewall

11.How many notable security issues have you had with Linux? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.
None.


Some
12.How many notable security issues have you had with any other operating system? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.
Some viruses, some browser hijacks.


13.Do you personally feel that Linux is a more secure operating system than others?
I feel linux is more secure than windows. No knowledge of other operating systems.

Yeah thats perfect, its just one or the other (depending on whether you use Linux in your job). Thanks for all your replies so far!

As these questionnaires are usually housed in the big General forum, I have moved this thread to there.

Personal questionnaire:

1.Which operating system do you use most of the time?

linux


2.How would you rate yourself as a computer user?
Novice Average Experienced Expert

average/experienced


3.Do you have, or are you currently studying for, a degree or other qualification(s) in computing? If another qualification, please feel free to specify what it is.

no


4.How would you rate yourself as a Linux user?
Novice Average Experienced Expert

average/experienced


5.Which security settings would you change on a new install of Linux? (If any)

none


6.Are you aware of any security flaws in Linux? Please feel free to specify what they are.

aware that there can be. rely on my distributor to fix with patches


7.How many years Linux experience do you have?

7


8.Do you use a firewall on your Linux computer(s)?

no


9.Do you use anti-malware software on your Linux computer(s)?

no


10.Do you use a firewall/anti-malware software on non-Linux computers?

if i had any i would.


11.How many notable security issues have you had with Linux? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.

none.



12.How many notable security issues have you had with any other operating system? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.

windows, where to stop? malware was a plague on windows. microsoft didn't help by imposing, first activation, then wmg. it had to go.

13.Do you personally feel that Linux is a more secure operating system than others?

since malware came along, linux and windows are the only systems i've used and linux beats windows hands down for security.

I use Linux personally and used Unix at work (retired now) so I will just answer the personal questionnaire.

Personal questionnaire:

1.Which operating system do you use most of the time?
Linux

2.How would you rate yourself as a computer user?
Novice Average Experienced Expert
Experienced

3.Do you have, or are you currently studying for, a degree or other qualification(s) in computing? If another qualification, please feel free to specify what it is.
None

4.How would you rate yourself as a Linux user?
Novice Average Experienced Expert
Experienced

5.Which security settings would you change on a new install of Linux? (If any)
None

6.Are you aware of any security flaws in Linux? Please feel free to specify what they are.
Yes

7.How many years Linux experience do you have?
18

8.Do you use a firewall on your Linux computer(s)?
Yes, router.

9.Do you use anti-malware software on your Linux computer(s)?
No

10.Do you use a firewall/anti-malware software on non-Linux computers?
Yes

11.How many notable security issues have you had with Linux? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.
None


12.How many notable security issues have you had with any other operating system? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.
None

13.Do you personally feel that Linux is a more secure operating system than others?
No

1.Which operating system do you use most of the time?
Windows (XP, 7, Vista, etc)

2.How would you rate yourself as a computer user?
Novice Average Experienced Expert

Average-->Experienced. In the general world "Average" seems to be equivalent to "mentally retarded", so I'm a notch above that imo (on windows anyway). In a LQ type environment (nerds), I am a complete novice.

This is actually a pretty important question. If you ask truly regular people to define these levels you will get different answers (and find out that there is a huge scope to the word "average" as that is how most people describe themselves). Once you step out of the development world and tech based communities things start to take a much different shape when it comes to how people define levels of technological proficiency and knowledge. So, know your audience.


3.Do you have, or are you currently studying for, a degree or other qualification(s) in computing? If another qualification, please feel free to specify what it is.

Second semester (at a community laughfest college) in A.S. program, will be transferring to University in the BScpE program.

4.How would you rate yourself as a Linux user?
Novice Average Experienced Expert

Incompetent - see next question

5.Which security settings would you change on a new install of Linux? (If any)
I'm still reading $ man man


6.Are you aware of any security flaws in Linux? Please feel free to specify what they are.
6000 different distros means you're all retarded and can't get your shit together.


7.How many years Linux experience do you have?
1 day(ish) - 1/365 = 0.00273972 years.

8.Do you use a firewall on your Linux computer(s)?
Is there a shell command for that? I bet it's really long with a ton of switches.

9.Do you use anti-malware software on your Linux computer(s)?
This would require a functioning linux box, which I do not yet have.

10.Do you use a firewall/anti-malware software on non-Linux computers?
Only as a form of delusion


11.How many notable security issues have you had with Linux? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.
Zero, all of my issues relate to support.


12.How many notable security issues have you had with any other operating system? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.
Quantification is irrelevant. Suffice it to say that under every Windows release I have gotten a virus. Even in the few situations where I attempted to secure my box.

13.Do you personally feel that Linux is a more secure operating system than others?
I don't personally feel anything, I am emotionless, like a robot before it gets the emotion chip add-on. It is my understanding that linux is a more secure OS when compared to Windows specifically and again in the category of malware, but what do I know?

Here's a version which is easier to fill in. The questions are also slightly more concise.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JVRLHBR

i just took the survey.

cheers, //////.

Personal questionnaire:

1. Which operating system do you use most of the time?

• Arch Linux

2. How would you rate yourself as a computer user?

• Experienced

3. Do you have, or are you currently studying for, a degree or other qualification(s) in computing?

• No

4. How would you rate yourself as a Linux user?

• Experienced

5. Which security settings would you change on a new install of Linux?

• Daemons, modules and network configuration

6. Are you aware of any security flaws in Linux?

• The user, and whatever gets fixed in the next software version

7. How many years Linux experience do you have?

• About 4

8. Do you use a firewall on your Linux computer(s)?

• No

9. Do you use anti-malware software on your Linux computer(s)?

• No

10. Do you use a firewall/anti-malware software on non-Linux computers?

• No

11. How many notable security issues have you had with Linux?

• None

12. How many notable security issues have you had with any other operating system?

• None

13. Do you personally feel that Linux is a more secure operating system than others?

• Yes

I will answer both personal and professional sections as I use Linux both personally and professionally.

Personal questionnaire:

1.Which operating system do you use most of the time?

Mepis

2.How would you rate yourself as a computer user?
Novice Average Experienced Expert

Experienced

3.Do you have, or are you currently studying for, a degree or other qualification(s) in computing? If another qualification, please feel free to specify what it is.

Open University T155 - Linux (An Introduction)

4.How would you rate yourself as a Linux user?
Novice Average Experienced Expert

Experienced

5.Which security settings would you change on a new install of Linux? (If any)

sshd.conf - disable root login mainly.

6.Are you aware of any security flaws in Linux? Please feel free to specify what they are.

No.

7.How many years Linux experience do you have?

10

8.Do you use a firewall on your Linux computer(s)?

No.

9.Do you use anti-malware software on your Linux computer(s)?

Yes.

10.Do you use a firewall/anti-malware software on non-Linux computers?

Yes.

11.How many notable security issues have you had with Linux? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.

None.

12.How many notable security issues have you had with any other operating system? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.

None.


13.Do you personally feel that Linux is a more secure operating system than others?

Yes.

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Professional:

1.How many years have you used Linux for?

My company has had Linux servers for around 4-5 years.

2.How would you rate yourself as a Linux user?

Novice Average Experienced Expert

As per personal section.

3.Do you have root access on your Linux System?

No, restricted sudo.

4.Which security settings would you change on a new install of Linux? (if any)

Not applicable, not within my role.

5.Are you aware of any security flaws in Linux? Please feel free to specify what they are.

No.

6.What rules and regulations does your company have which are directly related to Linux security?

None are directly related, just general IT policy.

7.How many years Linux experience do you have?

As per personal section.

8.For how many years have you used Linux in a professional setting?

4-5

9.How many notable security issues have you had with Linux? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.

None.

10.How many notable security issues have you had with any other operating system? (e.g. viruses, hacker taking control of machine etc.) Please feel free to specify what they were.

None that I'm aware of.

11.Do you use a firewall on your Linux computer(s)?

No.

12.Do you use anti-malware software on your Linux computer(s)?

No.

13.Do you personally feel that Linux is a more secure operating system than others?

Yes.