Hello all,

I'm advised by my IT expert (my teen) that a Linux machine is safer for stuff like online banking etc, compared to a Windows machine.

I plan on moving to Linux and seek advice from computer experts on this forum on their views on the safety of a Linux machine versus Windows machine.

I was hoping some experts will respond to your query, since there is no response, I will put my 2 cents...

Online banking etc. security depends lots on the encryption the bank site uses. It also depends on ur browser. Linux or Windows doesn't make much of a difference. Linux (and mac) is more stable than Windows + virus free + it's free. From that perspective, Linux can be said to be bit safer - in the sense that chances of a Trojan reading ur keystokes are less - but if u have a good antivirus, that should make windows equally safe. Now a days lots of software are available in Linux and in general, it may be a better choice than windows - at least much cheaper.

I am not an expert but I feel the level of security is lower in Linux. Here is why :-

1) I think the issue here is the number of people on Linux vs the number of people on Windows. So if my intention was to hack into systems, I would target systems with Windows vs those with Linux simply because of the numbers involved.

2) Since Linux is an open-source software, people with intentions of hacking can find ways to do it easier than with windows.

3) Microsoft and other commercial application providers have the resources to continously monitor threats to Windows whereas with Linux, the protection is provided by an ad-hoc group of developers around the world.

BV

Linux is safer than windows but it depends on the version of linux you are using and the configuration of linux.

A wrong configuration of linux may be less safer than windows.