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This has been a huge FUD-fest for the last eighteen months or so. First came the “Linux is now more secure than it was previously” story, which was followed quickly by some classic Microsoft FUD in the form of one Nick McGrath, head of platform strategy for Microsoft in the UK, has been quoted as saying:

“The biggest challenge we need to face centres on the myth and reality. There are lots of myths out there as to what Linux can do. One myth we see is that Linux is more secure than Windows. Another is that there are no viruses for Linux.”

Well, in a sense Mr. McGrath is right, in that Linux is not necessarily more secure than Windows, as commonly installed. It does take an expert to configure a Linux system for maximum security, but the same is true of Windows, OS X, and any other operating system out there, despite what anyone says about their product being “easy to secure.”

Every platform requires active maintainance. There is no such thing as secure technology. Every IT system must be backed up by sound practices and constant vigilence to have even a chance of remaining secure once it reaches that state.

However, there are no obvious security issues visible today to indicate that Linux is not ready for enterprise deployment. The code base is managed by all of the distributors and enjoys the active backing of many of the largest IT vendors. At the moment, the number of threat notices that the operating system attracts every day is relatively small.