this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2024
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Linux

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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what’s your thoughts on Linux and Windows… (pbs.twimg.com)
submitted 4 months ago by Synther@lemmy.zip to c/linux@lemmy.ml
43 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

When I refer to Linux, I am referring to a computer with the kernel and other software that makes up a Personal Computer.

I like to think that Linux is great, and always will be, a Personal Computer. Windows, I will always remember it being the best thing for business’s as Microsoft pushes licenses and such business related features.

I switched to Linux in 2020, Ubuntu, and slowly learned my ways around, and understanding how everything works, but most people don’t have to now, it’s so simple to get started.

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[–] fossphi@lemm.ee 186 points 4 months ago (1 children)

This might be one of the worse infographics I've ever laid my eyes on

[–] jol@discuss.tchncs.de 50 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Was probably made by a child as a school project. At least I hope.

[–] fossphi@lemm.ee 14 points 4 months ago

Methinks it might be engagement bait

[–] 7uWqKj@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

A child as a school project using ChatGPT

[–] fin@sh.itjust.works 71 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Linux: Gimp

Windows: Photoshop

Gimp is available on Windows.

[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 62 points 4 months ago

Linux: Libre Office

Windows: MS Office

Libre Office is also available on Windows.

[–] drwankingstein@lemmy.dbzer0.com 69 points 4 months ago (1 children)

this is quite frankly, a really dumb picture that is wrong on many accounts

[–] embed_me@programming.dev 4 points 4 months ago

Looks like something an underpaid school teacher would whip up

[–] Codemancer@lemm.ee 45 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (3 children)

“Provides more security than windows”

This is the only one I seriously doubt.

Ms defender is actually something I wish we had a replacement for.

Read only root fs is a start, but it doesn’t protect my documents.

Like your linux doesn’t get hacked because no one cares, if we become a target we are helpless more or less.

[–] moreeni@lemm.ee 15 points 4 months ago

And there are still people who will downvote you for saying that Linux distros are not impregnable fortresses of OS security

[–] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 8 points 4 months ago

This is the only one I seriously doubt.

Really? Almost all of it is wrong.

[–] featured@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 4 months ago

Linux can be secured on much deeper levels than windows, by default yes it lacks antivirus but its also much less necessary given the software distribution model of Linux vs windows. But ClamAV is a decent antivirus that I use on my Linux server. Never felt the need for one on my workstation/laptop

[–] savvywolf@pawb.social 35 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Oooh, I get to say an "Umm... Actually" fact. File names are not case sensitive in Linux nor are they case insensitive in Windows.

It's entirely possible to have a case insensitive filesystem on Linux (I think ext4 supports a mount option for it now). Likewise, there's a bit you can set on folders in Windows that makes its contents case sensitive. So realistically, case sensitivity is a property of the folder, not the OS.

Yes, that's as annoying as it sounds.

[–] Peffse@lemmy.world 11 points 4 months ago

I hate the fact that if you want to change the case on a file in windows, you can't just replace the offending letter. You have to change the name completely, then change it back with the correct casing. Then Windows will finally keep it.

[–] aBundleOfFerrets@sh.itjust.works 34 points 4 months ago

Windows isn’t / doesn’t use a microkernel

[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 28 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

"Free software" doesn't mean you don't pay for it, but that it respects and preserves the user's freedom. The opposite is not "cost software" but unfree software.

What is free software?

Most of the other points in this list are also questionable or inaccurate. In fact, I think the only true one is the first one: open source vs closed source.

[–] Malgas@beehaw.org 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Though it is also true that Linux is gratis and Windows is not.

[–] Shareni@programming.dev 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Not really:

  • RHEL is paid if you need more devices than the free license provides

  • SEL and Ubuntu Pro don't have any free licenses as far as I remember

  • you can mostly use windows without paying anything

[–] Malgas@beehaw.org 1 points 4 months ago

It seems kind of disingenuous to compare enterprise support contracts for Linux to personal Windows licenses. Especially while also ignoring that you do pay for Windows, it's just hidden in the cost of the device.

[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 23 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

provides more security than windows.

Doubt.

Yeah, if you have a fucking clue what you're doing which most casual users don't. (That includes me.)

The only significant advantage it has security-wise over Windows is not defaulting to an admin/root account and instead requiring an elevation of privileges.

...but even modern Windows does the same now.

Exploits exist for Linux and other open source products, corporations with Linux servers and GNU utilities get hacked.... I mean fuck just go look at all the CVE's, they don't make them for nothing.

[–] rostselmasch@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Every bugfix is a CVE. Even if it is maybe not a security problem in first place, but it might be one in the kernel context, so everything is a CVE. Also other CVEs from other applications, open source or not, doesn't have to mean that much. You have to see those database quite critical. Especially if you need very esoteric, almost magical methods to exploit.

When the people of the Linux Kernel started flooding them, because every bug is a security problem, those Database providers were and are very happy. It makes good money, those data is seller from other providers to companies. And now you really have to use their service, because the kernel have soooooooo many security problems! It is not like developers or security teams are happy about this shit. But if the senior leaders insist on use those CVEs, you don't have any choice. And it is not that unusual, that it is not needed to address them.

The Linux Kernel can provide and provides more security when you use them. It is the decision of the distribution if they want to enable selinux or apparmor, enable kernel options, which make your system more hardened with memory encryption, page poison or kernel lock down and and and. Since this is only the kernel, the userland can provide more features, which some distributions also enables.

The way you can elevate applications and define special rights for the usage of devices or OS functions, is incomparable to standard Windows. Would only user, group and rwx exist, they wouldn't be any lxc, podman, docker or whatever today. Windows does not the same now. Windows does it different and can't do some things regarding elevation of rights and their restriction by design.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 18 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I would argue that Linux is not more secure than Windows. Linux is way more private and gives you way more control but from a purely security perspective Linux has its own weaknesses and is constantly getting CVEs.

[–] TerraRoot@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I don't think getting CVE's is a good metric for security strength, but good points aside.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 months ago

I don't think Linux is inherently insecure. I just think it does have its own security issues which is especially true of LTS. It isn't a golden nugget and it is problematic when people treat it as such.

[–] boonhet@lemm.ee 13 points 4 months ago

I don't think Windows uses a microkernel. Hybrid kernel is the term I've heard used.

[–] Auzy@beehaw.org 11 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Gimp runs in windows. The security thing isn't really true (X11 isn't secure and it can't be fixed apparently)

In fact, as others have said, really bad comparison...

[–] cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de 13 points 4 months ago (1 children)

X11 isn’t secure and it can’t be fixed apparently

Which is why so much work has been going into Wayland, which will replace X11.

[–] Auzy@beehaw.org 7 points 4 months ago

Yeah. And honestly, way land already works fine (even screen sharing). Waydroid is a bit of a killer app too (but needs more refinement,).

[–] shotgun_crab@lemmy.world 9 points 4 months ago

Ah yes, free vs cost software...

[–] originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com 9 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

with everything being web-based, windows is slowly turning into a fancy dummy term/thinclient. exactly the control businesses want.

linux on the other hand is being fleshed out as a true desktop pc with all the customization most of us expect of a daily driver.

[–] roux@hexbear.net 7 points 4 months ago

Been using Linux for over a decade and I will never go back lol.

[–] cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 4 months ago

i mean gimp and libre office are both downloadable from winget and windows is typically free or factored in when you buy a pc (which is how most people would get it)

[–] beyond@linkage.ds8.zone 6 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Linux is an operating system kernel and Windows is an entire operating system. You can't really compare them

[–] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 5 points 4 months ago

Go home Mr Stallman.

[–] Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.works 6 points 4 months ago

For me the most annoying thing with Windows is the ads and the fact Microsoft is pushing you to buy into their stuff.

I clearly love Linux way more, but I don’t think Windows (10 at least) is as bad as some people make it sound.

Still I’m trying to convince everyone I know to switch to Linux.

[–] Kidplayer_666@lemm.ee 6 points 4 months ago

I’ve been using Linux between 2018-2020 and on and off between 2020-2023 and regained daily status on November last year. It’s been great, but some things like lacking a proper office replacement (Only Office (FOSS), FreeOffice (Free as in beer), and WPS Office (Free as in beer) are all getting closer) are a bit limiting. Some stuff like lacking VRR and HDR were annoying (getting fixed now) and gaming has been improving. Game compatibility sometimes is a bit of a sore spot, but it’s been getting ever easier and honestly, haven’t had issues with NVIDIA drivers under wayland

[–] the_crotch@sh.itjust.works 5 points 4 months ago

DAE micro$haft winBLOW$ suxx?????????

[–] TootSweet@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago

Windows, I will always remember it being the best thing for business’s as Microsoft pushes licenses and such business related features.

Most businesses I'm familiar with deserve to have to deal with Microsoft BS.

[–] aktenkundig@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 4 months ago

Some spontaneous thoughts Linux:

  • Awesome development environment
  • Awesome software management (apt, zypper, etc)
  • Great choice of desktop environments
  • Gazillions of distros (comes with need to make a choice) Windows
  • Great support for Nvidia drivers
  • Great subsystem for Linux
[–] Synther@lemmy.zip 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

For reference, when I saw this for the first time on Twitter. I thought it was a normal image, so I posted here be or your thoughts / opinions on Linux vs windows. Looking back, I noticed that it’s such a stupid infographic.

[–] ssm@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 4 months ago

Your ability to ride the fence is admirable OP, don't let anyone take it from you 🙏

[–] rostselmasch@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Linux Kernel provides more security techniques than Windows indeed, but they need to be used. To point out CVEs is kind of stupid. The Linux kernel never commited any entries to the CVE database for years, they started since February 2024 doing so, because they gave up on their opposition. They warned, if they do this now, the databases will get flooded with CVEs. Because in the kernel context, every bug counts as a security problem, if you look at it from the right perspective. This is a difference to Windows CVEs.

Of course this is great for those CVEs database providers because they now can sell their stuff happily.

What you need are not CVE entries for the Linux Kernel, but the latest supported Linux Kernel installed.

And srsly: Antivirus is snake oil. Using software with Administrator rights in Windows or even Linux, which parses every file, is fucking dangerous. It is usable on a mailserver, where the antivirus process is containerised or virtualized.

And what is the point with firewalls I read here? The most distros have firewalls enabled. When were they not there? Iptables was always there and I had to configure it, so I could allow or disallow incoming traffic. I almost never had to install it manually.

Edit:

Regarding CVEs, here the what Linux CNA tells:

Note, due to the layer at which the Linux kernel is in a system, almost any bug might be exploitable to compromise the security of the kernel, but the possibility of exploitation is often not evident when the bug is fixed. Because of this, the CVE assignment team is overly cautious and assign CVE numbers to any bugfix that they identify. This explains the seemingly large number of CVEs that are issued by the Linux kernel team.

Source

Any bugfix is a CVE

[–] eveninghere@beehaw.org 1 points 4 months ago

Using Windows I can tolerate most of their shit. But their Administor stuff and security model in general..