Viruses On Windows And Linux q

[abusado 0]

I recently read something which made sense. It said the main reasonthat Windows is susceptible to viruses, whereas Linux (UNIX) is not,is that in Windows a user has the ability to write practicallyanywhere on the hard drive. In Linux, however, user write privilegesare carefully and conservatively specified for every directory in thesystem.The only exception to this is the all-powerful "root" user in Linux. As the saying goes: if you have an executable and you don't know whatit does, don't run it as root.

[k_nitin_r 8]

I recently read something which made sense. It said the main reasonthat Windows is susceptible to viruses, whereas Linux (UNIX) is not,
is that in Windows a user has the ability to write practically
anywhere on the hard drive.

That's quite true, but Windows limits you to some extent too - it's just that most people use an Administrator account instead of using a standard user account. You can't install any software on Windows when you are logged in as a standard user.

Linux, on the other hand, does enable users to install software for themselves - they can have their own set of software, document and other files! If you do install any malware, it would only affect your files and not that of other users.

[csp4.0 1]

Its not that... Because most people use Windows is why Windows is mainly targeted... Linux is open source, meaning, chances are, whoever is trying to write a virus will make Linux more secure, whereas Windows is closed source, and only Microsoft can make the adustments which makes it immune to whatever virus...And also, using root everyday is a stupid idea Its 'overkill' chances are, you're not even going to install a program which you need to be on every single account...Try using a limited account while surfing the web, and only use "root" when you need to install something every account needs (i.e. Office program, Drivers, etc)