Linux and Virus...far less with Linux than Windows...

Linux and Virus... It is known that Virus problems are far less with Linux than Windows...

There are discussions about this in lenght and one can find the comparison quite easy.

Let me summary this way;

1) A virus in Linux would have to gain root rights and know the root password to damage the system
2)Windows systems just are far more easy to infect, hijack. Windows have standard build: for example, a virus can target iexplore, outlook express, outlook etc.

3) Linux has multiuser privileges built. Unix/Linux architecture/account-file privileges ensures that any malicious programs/scripts that manages to get executed, damages the home-directory only (in case of root, its a disaster!!). Keeping the rest of the accounts safe!!!

4) Specifically, for many years, windows ran everything as administrator. Which meant you could change anything. Made life more convenient, and far more dangerous. Malicious active-x controls could do *anything* to your machine.
5)Microsoft applications there is almost always some kind of API hook into the program. A virus writer or malicious user just needs to find one of these API calls that has a bug in it, and they can cause mass havoc. In essence, Microsoft is its own worst enemy...

Final summarize is that the Linux/UNIX is the toughest and hardest to infect with viruses, spams, because the system has been designed and built with the security in mind from the beginning period. Billions of servers and up coming desktops are running 24/7 without a glitch that proves the strongest of all. Windows on the other hand prone to viruses and malwares, and spams so thus will always be as it is no matter what version is producing for the consumers.

Details of discussions can be found here: http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestionAndAnswers=&gid=43875&discussionID=6342678&commentID=5946340&trk=NUS-DIG-DISC-Q-uc-mr&goback=.hom#commentID_5946340