Introduction
Many of today's computer users, operators, programmers and hackers are faced with numerous challenges to maintain an efficient and productive workstation. Everyday a new threat appears in the form of email viruses, spyware, adware, Internet worms or Trojan horse programs, each of which if left unchecked will disrupt the user's work and productivity. Today's savvy computer user wants a system that is stable, easy-to-use, easy on the budget, versatile and resilient to many of the threats facing computers. The Linux Operating System (OS) and the Open Source Software (OSS) that comprise a Linux Distribution, such as RedHat, Fedora Core, SuSe, and Mandrake, fits these requirements. Others would argue that the Microsoft (MS) Windows OS and associated software applications available are a better fit despite these problems.
MS Windows OS versus Linux OS
The MS Windows OS because of its wide-spread use, security model and software development practices is the largest target from these threats. To date there are over 100,000 threats poised against computer systems. (McAfee Virus Information Library, 2005) The bulk of these threats have in the past and the present continue to target the MS Windows OS and its associated applications. Today most of the computer viruses and Trojan horse programs are spread via email messages. The infected system then attempts to contact other interconnected computer systems using the installed email address book typically from MS Outlook or MS Outlook Express. Some viruses continue to spread when infected files are accessed on another computer system. The underlying reason for this continued spread is that the MS Windows OS determines which programs are executable based solely on the filename's extension (e.g. test.bat, test.cmd, test.exe, test.com), with exception of macro viruses. Thereby simply "opening" a file could allow a program to execute. This is compounded when the user has System Administrative rights, which is... [continues]
Many of today's computer users, operators, programmers and hackers are faced with numerous challenges to maintain an efficient and productive workstation. Everyday a new threat appears in the form of email viruses, spyware, adware, Internet worms or Trojan horse programs, each of which if left unchecked will disrupt the user's work and productivity. Today's savvy computer user wants a system that is stable, easy-to-use, easy on the budget, versatile and resilient to many of the threats facing computers. The Linux Operating System (OS) and the Open Source Software (OSS) that comprise a Linux Distribution, such as RedHat, Fedora Core, SuSe, and Mandrake, fits these requirements. Others would argue that the Microsoft (MS) Windows OS and associated software applications available are a better fit despite these problems.
MS Windows OS versus Linux OS
The MS Windows OS because of its wide-spread use, security model and software development practices is the largest target from these threats. To date there are over 100,000 threats poised against computer systems. (McAfee Virus Information Library, 2005) The bulk of these threats have in the past and the present continue to target the MS Windows OS and its associated applications. Today most of the computer viruses and Trojan horse programs are spread via email messages. The infected system then attempts to contact other interconnected computer systems using the installed email address book typically from MS Outlook or MS Outlook Express. Some viruses continue to spread when infected files are accessed on another computer system. The underlying reason for this continued spread is that the MS Windows OS determines which programs are executable based solely on the filename's extension (e.g. test.bat, test.cmd, test.exe, test.com), with exception of macro viruses. Thereby simply "opening" a file could allow a program to execute. This is compounded when the user has System Administrative rights, which is... [continues]
Cite This Essay
- APA
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(2005, 10). Ms Windows Versus Linux. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 10, 2005, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Ms-Windows-Versus-Linux-66706.html
- MLA
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"Ms Windows Versus Linux" StudyMode.com. 10 2005. 10 2005 <http://www.studymode.com/essays/Ms-Windows-Versus-Linux-66706.html>.
- CHICAGO
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"Ms Windows Versus Linux." StudyMode.com. 10, 2005. Accessed 10, 2005. http://www.studymode.com/essays/Ms-Windows-Versus-Linux-66706.html.
