Linux Rated Less Secure than Windows

Spinner

This week the Linux operating system was awarded CC security certification, and even though this news was obviously greeted with cheers from the open source community, the fact that Linux got a lower security certificate rating than Microsoft's Windows 2000 (which was awarded last fall) once again highlights the amount of work Linux developers still have to do, before it can actively pose a threat to Microsoft and its other OS's, at least in the catagory of official commendations.

Linux was certified as providing "low to moderate" security, while Windows 2000 received a "moderate to high" security rating last year. According to people close to the certification, Linux was being tested for better security ratings, but only achieved the "low to moderate" rating.

Further dampening the celebration is news that most Linux installs didn't receive the certification. Sponsored by a $500,000 fee paid by computing giant IBM, the certification applies only to SuSE Linux, and only then when it's installed on certain IBM hardware. Still, it's an important first step for the open source solution, which is trying to position itself as a viable alternative to Windows in various situations. Microsoft, the maker of Windows, of course, has made significant security-related improvements over the past year and half, since launching its Trustworthy Computing initiative.

The full report:
http://www.wininformant.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=39785

Thrax

HAAH!

Finally! Official testament to that which I've always been saying!