It's important to still be mindful of security and stay on top of updates. For example, Heartbleed and Shellshock both disproportionally affected Linux distributions (not Linux the kernel, of course), the former of which did have a client-side element that could negatively impact the integrity of "security on websites" depending on the client software used. GnuTLS has had several issues publicized this year as well. There have also been I think two more patches for multiple CVEs in the OpenSSL project since Heartbleed that weren't as bad, but the lesson remains--regardless of what OS you run, stay on top of updates. And when your OS no longer receives updates, DUMP IT ASAP.
That said, Linux is generally less susceptible to the bulk of malicious code for the reasons previously stated. -----Original Message----- From: Hardware [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Christopher Fisk Sent: Tuesday, November 4, 2014 9:39 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [H] Linux Safe as I think? >From the standpoint of attacks/etc, yes, linux is safe. Unless you get >youself into being a direct target for some reason (Running a high profile >website, etc) a machine just running linux and kept up to date with it's >patches is about as secure as you need to be. The wide net type attacks go >against the largest install base, that being windows. Kinda the low hanging >fruit of the hacking world. For security on websites, you're using the same software as you would otherwise use in windows. Your browser is encrypting, your network is going across the same internet link, etc, so there is no issue with logging into a website in linux vs windows. On Mon, Nov 3, 2014 at 3:03 PM, Winterlight <[email protected]> wrote: > I have been using Ubuntu a lot this year in a virtual VM. My desktop > is six core with 64GB of RAM so I can run lots of virtual desktops > with full screen VMs. It has been quite a while since I ran anything > Linux so I thought I would run it on a old Thinkpad X41 Tablet I have sitting > around. > So I installed Ubuntu and a number of different distros on my desktop > to find the one I wanted to use on my X41. > > I decided on Elementary 0 and I like it a lot. In the discovery > process I found myself using my desktop Ubuntu VM for lots of > different online and off line expanding activities. Last night I was > just about ready to log into my Ebay account and buy something from my > Ubuntu Firefox browser when I paused because I really don't understand > Linux down to the bone marrow like I do windows, and I am unsure if it > is as safe as I think it is to use with sensitive information... something I > have yet to do. > > I am not running any Linux anti virus or malware program that I am > aware of, I don't where the risks are, and goggling the issue brings > up very few returns. So is Linux as safe, out of the box, as I think > it is? And what is it about Linux and desktop security that I need to > know that I am probably unaware of. Thanks! > > w > >
