The weakest security link? You

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Desktops, not servers

Every time (well, not every time, but work with me here:)) someone wants to debunk the larger target theory they point to the fact the vast majority of the servers on the internet are *nix based. What they don't consider is the vast majority of those servers are also run by people who know what they're doing and have them locked down, behind a firewall and patched. In other words, people who aren't a weak security link. Also, the vast majority of viruses are transmitted via email. How many of those admins read email on the server and how many of those are going to be the idiot user who would open an unknown attachment?

It's the desktop that's the primary spreader of viruses. What I would like to see is someone come up with an algorithm that would show what sort of critical mass would be required for a virus to spread. I personally believe that the primary reason we see Windows viruses is because they occupy 95% of the desktops. For a virus to successfully spread there has to be enough infectable systems in contact with it. By infectable, I mean system with the proper OS and dumb enough users that would open the attachment and infect themselves. For the moment I believe Linux has a significant advantage regarding the CPU/IQ ratio. Well, maybe not IQ but at least computer skills.

I look forward to the day when Linux has a significant portion of the desktops and has a critical mass of uneducated users. Then, and only then, will we be able to tell if the larger target theory is real.

Posted by: PA-ITGuy   Posted on: 07/22/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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