Comments on: Memo From Dell: Ubuntu Linux Is Safer Than Windows

By: David F

David F — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 13:35:48 +0000

Since users would find it easier to click on the “Ubuntu Software Centre” (or “Center”), type in what they want to install and click the “Install” button, it’s far safer this way as the apps have been thoroughly checked for safety. In Windows, users have to search the web for installable apps, double-click the downloaded .exe or other installer and there’s no way of knowing if it came from a malicious source.

Also Ubuntu updates both itself and the installed programs. Windows only updates Microsoft software and not all programs check for newer versions.

I had been using Windows since Windows 95 right up until Windows Vista and became tired of the slowdowns, constant reboots on installing patches, constantly needing anti-virus software and problems that would mysteriously appear. One day I was told about Ubuntu Linux, installed Ubuntu and never looked back.

You may find this website interesting about the topic of Linux over Windows:
http://members.apex-internet.com/sa/windowslinux/

In fact, a page on that site mentions the Dell statement about Ubuntu being safer than Windows:
http://members.apex-internet.com/sa/windowslinux/03-04-security.html

By: Marissa

Marissa — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:06:17 +0000

It surprises me how few people realize exactly what goes into the software you put on a Ubuntu machine. Because the software is open source, anyone can look at the code to ensure that there is nothing that attacks the system on it. Very little software is written for Ubuntu that is not open source, because generally the community writes something open source to get around badly written software that you have to pay for. The Linux community does not like software that is not open source. Microsoft does not have any kind of democratic system in place to review code. Their in-house goobers write it Microsoft software, and the companies that want their software Microsoft compatible are supposed to pay a licensing fee which means they have to charge for their product as well, and want to protect the code from others who would copy it to make a free version. The mistrust and money-changing inherently makes it a much less secure operating system. Don’t assume it’s all about market share. The bottom line: To avoid the security issues, with Windows, you pretty much have to be a power-user. To encounter security issues with Ubuntu, you have to be a moron. Another interesting note: Wine now works so effectively translating Windows programs to run on Ubuntu that you can actually run a Windows virus with it. Plus side: you can run all of that without root, so the malware gets shut down with the program using Wine.

I submit that the only real advantage to using Windows over Ubuntu in this day and age is so you can program for Windows or play video games without a Linux version.

By: The VAR Guy

The VAR Guy — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:10:47 +0000

Ray: Don’t look back. Look ahead. And if you’re serious about embracing Ubuntu, leverage PC partners that promote Ubuntu. Names like System76 and ZaReason come to mind…
-TVG

By: Raymond Hubbard

Raymond Hubbard — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:31:47 +0000

Hello,

I sure wish you’d publish Dell’s *entire* original Ubuntu page, including the two-column comparison of Ubuntu and Windows, not just the portion of the page that contained the wording about Ubuntu’s greater safety/security than Windows. I’d love to be able to provide that entire page to friends whom I’m trying to inform about foss in general and Ubuntus in particular.

Thanks.

Ray

By: Abi Darwish

Abi Darwish — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 04:56:50 +0000

No, Linux, according to networkworld.com is more vulnerable than Windows.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/dell-says-ubuntu-safer-windows

P.S – Since Ubuntu uses Linux kernel, then, of course “Linux Is Safer Than Windows”.

By: Marbella

Marbella — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 07:23:04 +0000

It should be “Linux Is Safer Than Windows”, rather than Ubuntu Linux. It makes other linux distro to be part of the “not safer” side.

By: Abi Darwish

Abi Darwish — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 06:09:35 +0000

@The VAR Guy – Dell is right. But they have to change the entry from “6) Ubuntu is safer than Microsoft Windows” to “6) Ubuntu is secure” just because they have to take care their strategic business relationship with Microsoft.

Now go and type “Ubuntu” in the secunia advisory and vulnerability database search box and compare the security threats numbers with “windows”. Only then you see why Dell said so and which OS is the winner.

By: The VAR Guy

The VAR Guy — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:13:36 +0000

Update, June 17, 2010: Dell has removed/changed the Ubuntu vs. Windows statement from its web site, amid alleged pressure from Microsoft. Here are the details from The VAR Guy.

By: Shannon VanWagner

Shannon VanWagner — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:07:30 +0000

This is Fantastic! It’s always nice to hear some accurate PR for GNU+Linux.

“Indeed, if you look hard enough you’ll find Dell stating that “Ubuntu is safer than Microsoft Windows.”

Actually, seeing the statement is as simple as pointing your web browser to dell.com/ubuntu , you will see the statement:

“6) Ubuntu is safer than Microsoft® Windows®
The vast majority of viruses and spyware written by hackers are not designed to target and attack Linux.”

Right on.

By: devent

devent — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 07:33:21 +0000

@Dextar
that is exactly was I was talking about. No software can protect you to do stupid stuff. But because of the design and the policy of Linux you don’t have automatic, self infecting, self replicating viruses.

On Windows you restrict yourself and you buy expensive software to protected yourself. But still you get a Code Red* worm which will infect 359,000 servers.

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_Red_%28computer_worm%29

By: mb

mb — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 05:56:53 +0000

Maybe dell are just hardening their backbone ready to sell Google Chrome OS installed hardware in the autumn….

By: Tallahassee

Tallahassee — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 00:09:29 +0000

I hope the Ubuntu option will be in ALL Dell PC offers. I’ll soon need a new Laptop and the decission Dell or no Dell depends on how much choice over the OS you leave here in Germany.

Windows only is NO choice…