I've seen a collection of articles about computer security breaches originating from China and would like to give a report from the ITYS Foundation. ITYS, for the unaware, is "I Told You So." I've discussed the use of Linux on the desktop for years, touting its security, stability, thousands of free software applications and feature-rich interfaces. I'm constantly told that Linux on the desktop is dead. I've even said it myself after taking too many verbal lashings when touting Linux as a prospective desktop operating system. Novell and RedHat have both put the Linux Desktop out mind.
So, I guess we're all saying that we'll just stick with Windows and deal with the viruses, botnets, hackers, malware, email bombs, spyware and all the other goodies (baddies) that are sent our way.
Alternatively, innocent people shouldn't have their computers and their choice of operating system destroyed, hacked or spied-on by people with nothing better to do than to write malware and release it.
However, if Linux were the desktop of choice, most of these news items wouldn't exist. I'm not saying or suggesting that Linux is perfect but most of the issues that plague Windows don't exist for Linux.
It's my sincere hope that companies will soon discover that their reluctance to embrace Linux on the desktop is foolish. It's also my hope that virus and malware writers will face the maximum penalties available for costing innocent people millions of dollars in lost time and data. I know how China will deal with them. Perhaps the rest of the world should take note. You'd think under penalty of death that these individuals and groups would find some way of using their programming skills for good.
Unless of course, they're government sanctioned attacks.
In any case, they should have used Linux.
Do you agree that the solution to malware, at least from a user point of view, is to use Linux?
