The Linux vs. Windows debate has been raging for decades, with security a major focus. Linux enthusiasts are quick with one-liners like “In a world without walls, who needs Gates or Windows?” That might get a laugh, but it’s Linux really so much more secure than windows?
The short answer is, yes, Linux is more secure. But that doesn’t mean Linux is bulletproof or that Windows is completely helpless – it’s a little more nuanced than that. In this post, we will look at the comparison of these two operating systems, especially when it comes to security. But first, let’s cover some basic terms.
What is an operating system?
The operating system, or OS, manages your computer’s software and hardware, memory, and processing power. It helps you complete tasks and ensures that each piece of hardware or software has enough resources to function.
A graphical operating system is an OS with a graphical user interface or GUI. A GUI helps you interact with the software through your mouse, trackpad, and keyboard.
What is Windows?
Microsoft Windows is a graphical operating system for personal computers first released in 1985. Today, Windows has a 73% market share, making it the most widely used desktop operating system. This is mainly because it is easy to use and because it supports a wide range of software applications and AAA games.
What is Linux?
Linux is a family of free, open source operating systems developed by the community for servers, desktops, mainframes, and mobile devices. It was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and today has a market share of just under 4% of desktop computers.
While it’s far from the most popular desktop operating system, it’s a favorite on older, slower machines because it’s so fast and stable. Also, most physical and virtual servers run Linux. Even Microsoft uses Linux for some of its cloud services, which is saying a lot.
Because it is open source, the Linux code is publicly available, which means that anyone can create a new operating system based on it. Today there are over 600 different Linux distributions, and among the most popular are Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint, Manjaro and MX Linux.
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Why is Linux more secure than Windows?
Linux has stronger security due to its inherent design and far smaller user base. Without getting too technical, here are the six main factors that make Linux more secure than Windows.
Permissions
Permissions refer to the access rights users enjoy.
By default, Windows gives you and the files you download full administrative access. This means that the software can make major changes to your system without your permission.
Imagine this: you accidentally click on a malicious link and it installs a virus on your computer. Windows didn’t ask you to confirm your administrator password before installing, and now your device is infected.
Linux is different. Before you can install software or change the operating system, you must enter the root password. This means that you will receive a warning if your Linux system is infected with a virus. This makes it easier to isolate and remove dangerous files before they can do any damage.
Note: If you’re on a Windows computer, you can change your permission settings to make your Windows OS more secure. This ensures that you will have to enter your password before the script or program can do anything system-wide. You can also use anti-malware to protect your device and a VPN to encrypt your traffic.
Open source
Open source code is available for anyone to review, analyze and debug. It exploits Linus’s law which states: “With enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow.”
An open source project like Linux involves a huge community of developers who volunteer their time and skills to make the source code better and more secure.
More than 13,500 developers have contributed to the Linux kernel since 2005, according to the Linux Foundation. Developers from all over the world do it for love, finding vulnerabilities, working on fixes and making those changes available to everyone for free.
In contrast, only Windows employees work on Windows code, so they can never compete with the security patching power of Linux’s countless armies.
PIA also believes in the power of the crowd and is one of the few open source VPNs available. We aim for complete transparency about how we work, so we’ve made our source code publicly available for everyone to scrutinize.
Software installations
When you want to install software on a Windows computer, you need to find and download the installation file somewhere on the Internet. It can be difficult to verify the credibility of software because it comes from a variety of sources, not all of which can be trusted.
Linux, on the other hand, uses a tool called a package manager to help you find and install software only from reputable, community-managed repositories. That way, you’re far less likely to encounter sketchy files.
Microsoft tried to introduce something similar when it released the Windows Store, but it failed to gain traction among users, mainly because it contained so few of their favorite apps.
additions
Windows and Linux require regular system and application updates. If you ignore this, your computer could become vulnerable to cyber attacks. While Windows forces you to deal with these updates individually, Linux allows you to perform all the updates using a single command within the terminal.
Also, Windows often requires you to reboot after updating a program, so if you’re like me, you’ll probably delay the update to avoid the interruption. Linux rarely requires you to restart your computer after an update, which means you’re less likely to delay or ignore updates, and your security naturally improves.
User base
Linux is safer because it is so obscure. Cybercriminals usually target Windows machines. After all, with many more users to exploit, it is more profitable. Also, Linux is hard to target precisely because it comes in so many different distributions.
Privacy
Linux gives you far more data privacy by default, while Windows sends a bunch of information about you and your computer to Microsoft. If you want to increase your privacy in Windows, you have to navigate a complex maze of settings to opt out of various forms of data collection. While Linux distributions like Canonical have recently started collecting some user data, it’s usually simple enough to disable this feature.
Will Windows ever catch up?
Linux has long been hailed as the more secure of the two OSes, but some believe Windows is catching up. Windows Defender’s improved reputation for blocking viruses, Trojans, and other malware is a good sign. But even so, Windows has a deeply embedded design flaw that prevents it from catching up to Linux. It was invented for personal computing before the advent of the Internet, so it lacks the basic security infrastructure needed for today’s networked computing.
Linux was developed primarily for networking, which means that thinking about network security is built into its genetic makeup. While Windows has come a long way, it may have to rewrite its code from the ground up if it really wants to compete.
Performance note
Besides security, Linux distributions also outperform Windows when it comes to speed. This is because the Linux kernel is super lightweight.
Linux also has no bloatware and doesn’t run a bunch of background processes the way Windows does. This allows him to rise and complete tasks much faster.
This is also why people are increasingly using Linux on older, slower machines that no longer support the latest version of Windows.
Linux vs. Windows: Key Differences
| Linux | Windows |
| Open source | Closed source |
| Free | Sold as a license |
| Exposed to fewer threats | Prone to malware |
| Respect for privacy | It constantly collects data |
| Safer | Less certain |
| Leisurely | Intensive resources |
The last word
The Linux vs. Windows debate will continue to rage at water coolers and dinner parties for years to come, and both likely have their place and fan base. When it comes to ease of use, gaming and software compatibility, Windows wins the public vote. But when it comes to security, Linux leads the way.
If you’re considering switching from Windows to Linux, keep in mind that it may not be the holy grail that Linux fans believe. It may take some getting used to, and you may have to say goodbye to some of your favorite software or games. For some, that’s a price they’re happy to pay for security, not to mention the stability, speed, and spirit of the Linux community.
Although Linux is more secure than Windows, your traffic is just as exposed when you’re online. Third parties can track your activity, and cybercriminals can exploit your traffic on public Wi-Fi. Fortunately, you can use PIA VPN to encrypt your connection with military-grade VPN encryption and keep your browsing private. Try it today with PIA VPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee.
Questions
What sets Linux apart more than anything else is that it is open source. This means that the code is available for anyone to review and improve. Since 2005, more than 13,000 volunteer developers have contributed to the improvement and security of Linux.
That. Linux is faster and requires less resources than Windows. Linux is also free of bloatware like Windows. This means that it picks up and completes tasks much faster. If you want a faster OS or if you want to extend the life of an older computer, Linux is a great choice.
That. Linux is much lighter in terms of RAM, CPU and storage. Windows runs a lot of processes in the background, which chews up your resources. In contrast, the Linux kernel is lightweight and lightning fast.
That. First, Linux is open source, which means it has a large community of decentralized developers who review the code to identify bugs and quickly fix them.
Second, Linux does not grant full system access by default. You have to enter a root password to make system changes or install software, which means there’s less chance of malware wreaking havoc behind your back.
And finally, Linux enjoys security through obscurity. While malware designed for Windows abounds, threats to Linux are few and far between. This is not surprising as it does not make sense for cybercriminals to target such a small group of users.
That. Windows collects a lot of your data and makes it difficult to turn it off. Although some Linux distributions collect your data, it is usually easy to change these settings.
In addition, ISPs, network administrators, advertisers and other third parties can still track your network activity, regardless of which operating system you use.
That’s why it’s a good idea to always turn on PIA VPN to improve your online privacy and security. With one click of a button, PIA will mask your IP address and route your traffic through a private tunnel to divert all prying eyes from your online activity.
