Linux Versus Windows

Windows from Microsoft has been the most widely used operating system for years: 75.5 percent used it in January 2022 (source: Statista ). While the majority of all Linux distributions are available free of charge, you pay different prices for Windows – depending on the version. Last but not least, the spread of Windows can be explained by its ease of use: the OS is easy to use even without IT knowledge. With Linux, on the other hand, there are various entry hurdles, and the operation is also more complex. Once through, however, users rave about user-friendliness.

Windows compatibility is exceptionally high, while Linux hardware support is much more limited. Windows scores with automatic updates – a property that is very useful for security. With Linux, users decide which updates are installed, which sometimes makes updating riskier.

There is still one crucial point: the security and malware distribution in both systems. Since Windows commands a gigantic market share for itself, there are significantly more malicious programs for this operating system than for Linux – and the Windows system itself makes it easier for attackers than Unix-based systems. However, Linux users should not think they are safe: Malware for Linux also appears more and more frequently. 

Linux: From Cloud Servers To IoT Systems

Linux is widely used on cloud servers but also in IoT devices, not least because Linux is considered to be remarkably stable and adaptable. Due to the many advantages and purposes of IoT devices, their number is increasing – and with it, the attacks. Unfortunately, not all manufacturers protect their IoT devices in a meaningful way, making it unnecessarily easy for cybercriminals: Unfortunately, open ports are just as insecure as standard as programmed login data and unpatched security gaps.

Security Solutions For Windows And Linux

The market distribution of the two operating systems, Windows and Linux is similar to that of the available security solutions: There are countless for Windows, while the selection for Linux users is not particularly extensive. This is not only due to the market conditions of both systems but also to the fact that Linux has long been considered almost unassailable.

The independent site av-test.org allows you to compare antivirus software. In an overview of IT security products, it becomes immediately apparent that Windows users have a large selection – both private users and companies. The situation is different under Linux: Only a few providers offer antivirus solutions for Linux. Let’s take a look at additional offers:

• Bitdefender GravityZone Ultra Security for Linux and Mac: This solution combines automatic response capabilities with multi-level non-signature-based detection methods; one console allows managing security for desktops, servers, virtual and physical machines, mobile devices and email.
• Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Linux: This solution is suitable for workstations and servers. At this point, we would like to point out that the BSI recently warned against the use of virus protection software from the Russian manufacturer Kaspersky. CEO Eugene Kaspersky commented on this warning in an open letter.
• Comodo Antivirus for Linux: This solution is also suitable for home users. The user-friendly program offers protection against all types of malware with real-time protection, a firewall and an email gateway. Comodo sandboxes unknown files and does not scan them against a list of virus definitions.
• With secure Linux Security: Protection suitable for Linux computers and servers with standard protection against malware, protection against unauthorized access, protection of system files and other features.
• Avast Business Antivirus for Linux: Protects Linux servers running different distributions such as Debian, Ubuntu or Red Hat.

All of the products mentioned are also available for Windows – and much more besides, as you will see in the overview of IT security products from av-test.org linked above.

Current Threats To Linux

Various tongues still claim that there are no threats to Linux. In addition to the numbers mentioned above, there are other reports that Linux users should be aware of. Last year, the BSI pointed out on Twitter that “for the first time, a statistically significant number of new Linux malware variants” were recorded. “The background is a massive expansion of the XorDDoS botnet, which was used years ago for large-volume DDoS attacks,” tweeted the BSI. But there is more cause for concern:

Linux Attacked By Cybercriminals.

Security vendor VMware announced in February 2022presented its threat report entitled “Exposing Malware in Linux-Based Multi-Cloud Environments”. As Senior Director of Threat Intelligence at VMware, Giovanni Vigna, explains, “Cybercriminals are dramatically expanding their reach, adding malware targeting Linux-based operating systems to their attack toolbox to maximize their impact with as little effort as possible. Instead of infecting an endpoint and then navigating to a higher-value target, cybercriminals have discovered that infecting a single server can yield the desired profit and access. Attackers consider both public and private clouds to be high-value targets because they provide access to critical infrastructure services and sensitive data.

Ransomware attacks are one of the main threats of this time – this also affects Linux-based systems: Linux-based ransomware is increasingly targeting host images used to run workloads in virtualized environments.

Are Antivirus Solutions For Windows And Linux Necessary?

There was a time when Linux was considered inherently secure—antivirus solutions were unnecessary. Unfortunately, this is still in the minds of users today – but the threat situation has changed: Malware that targets Linux systems is appearing more and more frequently in the wild; Ascending trend. Because Linux-based systems are becoming more and more widespread – and with this spread, the number of possible Linux malware samples will also continue to rise.

So don’t limit your security concerns to the operating system you’re using. There are families of malware – like the backdoor SysJoker – that target Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. That’s why security solutions belong to every system; this is the only way you can feel safer.

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The final end of support for regular users has been announced on January 14, 2020. Therefore, if you still have this system, you will not receive any updates on it. This does not necessarily mean the end of your Windows 7 world, but it will be increasingly difficult for you to live with this system.

Why doesn’t Microsoft take care of its system?

Users have become accustomed to this system, and after the not quite optimally accepted Windows Vista, it has been the salvation of many. We’ve tested Windows Vista in the past, and although it wasn’t perfect, we liked it and showed the possibilities of new devices and where the world of Windows can move forward. Windows 7 has been here since October 2009.

Microsoft has been taking care of its products for a long time. The habit of users is simply a habit and the reluctance to change something is great. He provided service for this system for a really long time. This is despite the fact that some manufacturers no longer provide drivers for their hardware devices for this system.

Windows 7 continues to work naturally. After all, those who have it, you could see for yourself. However, a warning is displayed stating that it is no longer protected. The system itself will work, but gradually various applications will leave it. For example, because it will be vulnerable.

New versions of your favorite programs may no longer be compatible with Windows 7. We don’t expect much disaster here either, and you may not have experienced software compatibility issues for a year or more. Microsoft will support this system with its Chromium-based Edge browser, as will Google Chrome. Both manufacturers will agree by July 15, 2021. Finally, Total Commander still works for you until Windows 95.

An exception is also Microsoft Security Essentials , which will be supported for the time being and will receive antivirus definitions. The program, like other factory-installed applications on the system, has the same lifecycle as the system. So it gets new definitions of malicious code, but no improvements.

Service Pack

Fix packs for this system can exist, of two kinds. In the first case, it may be a hoax, as the company no longer supports the system and will not issue such cumulative patches. The second case is that specialized fixes for company licenses will be available on the Internet and from there users will be able to accumulate them directly into the Windows installation image. You can also wait for the Windows 7 installer with updates beyond the official end-of-home support date. The situation will be unclear and we will see where the creators of malicious code go with their creativity.

Windows 7 and companies

Enterprise and Windows 7 Professional and Enterprise licenses are a slightly different case. Extended support for Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) for up to three years can be purchased here . It will be quite expensive and the computer will cost $ 50 the first year, $ 100 the second and $ 150 the third year. After all, companies can still delay the transition to Windows 10 until January 2023.
In this case, it is also just about security updates, no improvements will be made to the system. So do new hardware drivers if they aren’t released by the manufacturers themselves. There will be companies that buy this support, so far the case of the German government is known, which really bought such support for its institutions. He will pay around 800,000 euros for it.

Security updates

The problem with vulnerabilities is not just that they are. However, Microsoft also announces them publicly. The company that makes the bug fix update package and publishes what it fixes. However, this is a slightly different case and relates to the need to update the system. So the attackers know exactly what flaws the system is having and focus directly on that. Bugs are known, just exploit them, and in a system that doesn’t have the latest patches for known issues, it’s much easier.

You can, of course, use an antivirus system. Antivirus manufacturers officially confirm that they protect the system in several areas. They block malicious code that gets through the web browser and also cut some access paths in the operating system. However, this will still not be enough

Windows 10 – the best of all time

At the same time, it would be a little sad if the latest system and product of this company were not the best you could use. Changing controls, moving elements from the Control Panel to the Settings application, and other things were cosmetic changes. They were not pleased and the design of the system also did not prove to be the most beautiful of all time. Windows XP was considered a design delicacy, and Vista and the “seven” continued this trend.

With the advent of Windows 8, a schizophrenic change in the design of what the new system should look like began. In many cases, the ground went down after the icons, leaving only text descriptions. The Start menu displayed in full screen has reluctantly accepted the reluctance to accept a radically different system. Again, it was a matter of habit and time. But we admit that many things didn’t work properly and you didn’t really need the new system. If you had a new device, there were still drivers for Windows 7. You could stay with it. Windows 8.1 was a major update and actually a self-perceived system by Microsoft.

The best thing you can do now is to switch to Windows 10. In our view, it’s the best Windows system, and the experience of the various computers we tested it proves. It’s not just about innovations and cosmetic improvements, but about the overall support from the system manufacturer as well as application and hardware manufacturers.

What actually discourages many users are problems with updates. There are many of them, all of them are thrown into one bag, so you didn’t even have to boot the system after the upgrade. Gradually, however, the updates separate, so you can download new drivers for system components, BIOS, or graphics driver without downloading other fixes. They then disabled Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or the audio driver. These are issues that are not worth much for many and postpone updates for as long as possible.

Tens have evolved in this direction, and now the compatibility check is even more rigorous. It was common for some laptops to receive a major update after two months, which we had on another computer. After the computer manufacturer updated its laptop system drivers and specific device drivers, the installation of a newer version was allowed. It was similar with the software.
The case concerns older programs that directly require a close connection to system drivers. For example, VMware Workstation or ESET Endpoint Encryption. The update process checked what you installed on your system and alerted you to potential issues. Until you resolve them, you could not proceed and upgrade to a newer version of Windows. This procedure is correct, and the update was installed at a time when the system was really ready.

System repair

The strength of Windows 10 is the ability not to leave you clueless. You may remember the times with Windows 95, when if you didn’t get into the system, your chances of fixing it were very small. Gradually it improved, Windows XP with a restore point brought salvation, but it was also not always completely helpful. The best support for recovery when the system breaks down and does not start is provided by Windows 10. You have the tools to uninstall updates, save files, and also access the encrypted disk via BitLocker. You also need a smartphone to find out the unlock code if you saved it in your Microsoft account, but it’s an option not to lose files.

It is common for a laptop or computer to have a disk partition so that you have the installation files there. In case of an error, you can try to reinstall the system without losing your files.

Windows 10 still free

It is still possible to switch to a new system. Although Microsoft has gradually stopped providing the transition to Windows 10, as it once pointed out, it is still possible. You need Media Creation Tools to do this . Here’s how to type it into a search engine and download it. You need a DVD or an 8 GB flash drive and you can create bootable media. Everything happens automatically from the download to the preparation of the boot sector on the given media. After restarting the computer, you will boot from the installation disk and upgrade to Windows 10 while preserving your files, or choose a complete disk wipe and a clean installation.

Also Read: WiFi: How To Improve Your Home WiFi Network

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