Unix-like Operating Systems are Safer to Malware and Virus Attacks

What operating systems are safer on your computer to malware and virus attacks?

What operating systems (OS) are safer on your computer to malware and virus attacks? It is not difficult to say. Unix-like OS, such as GNU/Linux and FreeBSD, are safer compared to Microsoft Windows. Computer experts would say that it is a myth. Because they are carrying out rigorous experiments in the lab to test the vulnerabilities of Unix-like OS. Their research findings will contribute towards improvement of security in the Unix-like OS.

Malware and virus attack are common in Microsoft Windows

My colleagues and friends around the world suffer with virus and malware problems. Because most of them use proprietary OS such as Microsoft Windows. That is why the anti-virus software are so popular among them. They buy the OS as well as the anti-virus software. They scan their computers regularly with anti-virus programs. Their valuable time and computer resources are wasted for the virus scans.

There are so many virus signatures and malwares, and the numbers are increasing everyday

One of my friends buy two anti-virus software. The expenditure on virus cleaning software does not decrease. Some of my colleagues buy three anti-virus programs from three different anti-virus vendors. By buying all these anti-virus software they think that they are free from virus attack. But, how many anti-virus programs they would buy? And, how many hours would they scan their computers?

Best solution is to adopt a GNU/Linux OS and minimize virus problems

I tried GNU/Linux in the late nineties. Finally I switched (was baptized) to GNU/Linux in 2000. I am not using any proprietary OS since then. I am so far safe on my personal desktop and Laptop. I never experienced any malware or virus attack on my GNU/Linux computers for the last 16 plus years.

A very few cases of malware attacks on Unix-like OS are in the news

My computer expert friend who is a qualified Unix administrator in a Japanese university used to say that Unix-like OS may also face malware attacks. Principally it is true. They had adopted FreeBSD for their university department servers. They found security is better implemented on FreeBSD OS compared to that on GNU/Linux.

Experimental tests on security aspects of Unix-like OS are being carried out in different research laboratories around the world. Android is also a Linux kernel based OS. The mobile companies who deploy Android OS have to take serious efforts to improve security aspects. I wish more people will try Unix-like OS, such as GNU/Linux and FreeBSD on their desktops and laptops. Because, the Unix-like OS are still safer compared to the most popular Windows OS. Moreover, GNU/Linux and FreeBSD are free.

Here are some other posts I authored:

• Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics are not Separate Chambers
• Energy is Costlier than Money
• Why Google and Microsoft Run after Glass and Lens?
• Power of a LinkedIn Connection
• Live Like an Entrepreneur
• Best Solution to Software Virus
• Need 15 Tips to Eat a Biscuit?
• Life Lessons from Penguins

In June 2015, Dr. Jeffrey Strickland and I founded a new LinkedIn Group called "The Unfluencers". To learn about the history of "The Unfluencers" please read the seminal LinkedIn article by Dr. Jeffrey Strickland entitled -- "Who are the Unfluencers". This group is an open group. You are welcome to join this group and engage yourself in the discussions. The Unfluencerᵀᴹ Logo is a registered trademark of Dr. Jeffrey Strickland.

Text Copyright © 2017 Debesh Choudhury— All Rights Reserved 

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Debesh Choudhury is an academician and researcher. He is interested in the science and engineering of optics and electronics. He uses GNU/Linux, Free and Open Source Software for all his works related to computers, be it educational or entertainment, professional or personal.