What if Linux gets big in the desktop market?
 

The way all these viruses and worms continually bombard Windows PC's, it makes me think that Linux might end up gobbling up some desktop share from MS. Kind of like how Firefox is gaining on IE. This in turn has me worried. I, like many here love the safe feeling of using Linux but what if it starts becoming more of a target? Can Linux withstand it? From what I see, Linux looks like it could handle it, but i'm not well knowledged when it comes to the inner workings of Linux.

In a way, I kind of like the fact that Linux is not really noticed. It's a lot like the Internet when it first started getting big. It was a great thing until pop-ups and worms became the norm.

Dunno ssh exploit, Kernel expoit, Bind exploit, PHP hacks etc etc.

Looking at my server logs, I can't really share that sense of security. There is hardly a day, some numpty gets kicked out trying to login/ tries to scan/ tries to hack PHP etc etc.

Linux just has more (free) tools to deal with the threat.

some interesting reads

http://linuxmafia.com/~rick/faq/index.php?page=virus
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/10...ndows_viruses/
http://linuxtoday.com/news_story.php...-OP-SW-DV-0010

As a desktop user I know I won't be safe forever, however I feel much more secure now than I've ever felt during the years I was using Windows.

It's likely that the threat to linux will increase, yes, and distros like linspire are likely to be hit the most...

But linux does have some advantages that will help. It has a more inherantly secure system to start with - windows server versions do similar things and they are more secure even today.

Also linux comes in a vast variety of flavours, so it's hard to hit them all. Say if one version gets very popular and has a security problem, it's likely there will be plenty of less distributed distros will not be effected and/or can easily update to avoid the problem.

The update cycle can also be VERY fast with linux for those who know what they are doing, so they will easily stay ahead of any problems anyway...

It will be interesting to see what happens if we get there, but it's not something that is worrying me...

I suggest that the types of problems we will get will be that same as we are getting now in windows - please click here to update your bank records, install this update, insert root password, etc...

Just to add to this... The threat will be there and many less aware users will get hit while the more experienced will probably do okay. Much like it is with win machines now... But maybe not quite so bad :)

Popups and ad/spyware wont get anywhere on linux, and the permissions system would limit any malicious code you'd downloaded (once you'd set it to executable, etc). Plus users would be more aware of the risks of online media and also how their system works. The only major risk would be exploits in buggy software, which would recieve more attention&faster fixes than ever. :)

Hmm, but while Worms and Vrii are passive attempts, the Linux hacker usually has a more active approach, aka spending more time on trying to break into your system. The good thing is I suppose that the more time s/he spends the less s/he can spend on others. r/K startegy kinda thing. Try many with low effort of one with high effort.

Since Linux mostly comes with some kinda outside services installed (WTF has portmap to do in a standard install :mad: found it in SUSE 8.1 and in Debian ) you are more likely to attacked directly.

The threat is different, if Linux Desktop isn't turned into a REAL Desktop, no services to the outside. If a Linux Desktop isn't a kinda messy server system, then I agree the threat is (in the moment) lower.

linux is safer because even at this stage in the game, all distros have a firewall on by default, before ms ever did. AV programs do exist, and theyre free, so that protection is available to everyone, should they ever need it.