Why does Windows OS's prone to Viruses or always a target by hackers?

[mac143_01]

Whats wrong with Windows OS's?

Why can't they prevent Virus attacks?

Why does hackers attack Windows?

Do Microsoft lacks the knowledge against viruses or they keep their backdoors open?

Do people just hated Windows so they created viruses?

What is a bug?

What would you preffer Ubuntu or Windows?

Why do people still use Windows even its not stable?


"I hope that everyone in the world would use Open SOurce software"

For me I can say that Windows is pretty much more familiar here in the Philippines rather than Linux,,,

How can I spread the GOODNESS of UBuntu here in the Philippines?

[abn91c]

because windows in used in about 90% of worlds computers

[SunnyRabbiera]

because windows in used in about 90% of worlds computers

that and many other things.
as I just said in another post:
Windows justs asks for trouble, for one many out there loathe microsoft and its policies and most of the virus writers out there use linux as a platform to program in {as programming in linux is easier then in windows)

also the way windows is set up by default invites issues, by practically giving everyone root access windows is a security hole in itself.

[sayakb]

How can I spread the GOODNESS of UBuntu here in the Philippines?

Join your country's LoCo team: http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=303
Encourage others of your country to Join the team an participate in Ubuntu.
Check Philippine LoCo team rules.

[WRDN]

I don't think Windows is as bad as people make out (and I'm dual-booting XP and Ubuntu, the latter is used most).
The major floor in XP is the access rights. By default all users are administrators, and any program can run without your permission.

[Therion]

Whats wrong with Windows OS's?
Nothing. They're just different. Different ideas about how things should be done from the very start.

Why can't they prevent Virus attacks?
Microsoft can't control what other people do; they can only respond to it.

Why does hackers attack Windows?
Because Windows has about +90% market share.

Do Microsoft lacks the knowledge against viruses or they keep their backdoors open?
I think it's a combination of issues that prevents Microsoft from being able to deliver tightly integrated code.

Do people just hated Windows so they created viruses?
Some people are just a--holes. Period. Nobody knows why... Viruses are just their chosen method of expressing what an a--hole they are. If they weren't writing viruses, they'd be pushing old ladies in front of oncoming buses and such instead.

What is a bug?
It's an error in the application coding.

What would you preffer Ubuntu or Windows?
I think you know the answer to that.

Why do people still use Windows even its not stable?
Because that +90% market share leads to a "conform or die" mentality.

How can I spread the GOODNESS of UBuntu here in the Philippines?
Burn and distribute Ubuntu CD's. I keep a spindle of them here in my office and pass them out like candy with a little pamphlet of website links and information regarding Ubuntu and Linux in general to help get them started.

[sayakb]

The major floor in XP is the access rights. By default all users are administrators, and any program can run without your permission.

Correct. And MS tried to fix this in Vista by introducing UAC, but most people keep it off. I too found it extremely irritating. If you use Windows Vista as a Limited user (without admin previleges), and keep UAC on, you might have very less chances to get infected by a Virus. But nobody does that, isnt it ?? ;)

[tk03759]

Whats wrong with Windows OS's?

I can't answer that one.

Why can't they prevent Virus attacks?

Partly because there are so many viruses for windows, and partly because users are often uneducated about how viruses get in and what the signs are.

Why does hackers attack Windows?

It's used a in a higher percentage of computers than any other operating system, so exploits affect a lot more users. The system is also based on running users at total administrators by default, unlike many *nix systems which try to avoid that.

Do Microsoft lacks the knowledge against viruses or they keep their backdoors open?

I think they'd rather not totally change their system to make it foolproof, so they keep patching on and revising code, or rewriting the same code in a new manner, both of which allow for bugs or security holes. Part of it's not their fault eithor, but the fault of "ignorant" users.

Do people just hated Windows so they created viruses?

Some.

What is a bug?

Any part of your system acting in an unexpected way could be described as a bug.

What would you preffer Ubuntu or Windows?

I prefer Ubuntu.

Why do people still use Windows even its not stable?

"Everyone else has it." or "I don't want to learn something new." or even for others, "If it aint broke, don't fix it." Some people like one os, while others prefer another.

[stchman]

Whats wrong with Windows OS's?

Why can't they prevent Virus attacks?

Why does hackers attack Windows?

Do Microsoft lacks the knowledge against viruses or they keep their backdoors open?

Do people just hated Windows so they created viruses?

What is a bug?

What would you preffer Ubuntu or Windows?

Why do people still use Windows even its not stable?


"I hope that everyone in the world would use Open SOurce software"

For me I can say that Windows is pretty much more familiar here in the Philippines rather than Linux,,,

How can I spread the GOODNESS of UBuntu here in the Philippines?

Most people use Windows. Windows is inherently insecure. Most Windows users are idiots and will click on anything.

[nvteighen]

Whats wrong with Windows OS's?
Many things. Microsoft's efforts to make Windows backwards compatible is one big factor that. See what Apple did with Mac OSX: they finally dropped backward-compatibility in favor of a code renewal.

Why can't they prevent Virus attacks?

Why does hackers attack Windows?

Do Microsoft lacks the knowledge against viruses or they keep their backdoors open?

You could prevent much of them by not running as an adminstrator all the time. But also the way you install software plays a role: GNU/Linux users usually use repositories (trusted servers, that have to authenticate themselves using a key) and not just any executable they find anywhere... unless they want to compile something by themselves (this means, they've read the code first).

What is a bug?
Any error in code is called a "bug". The name comes from a funny story of a moth short-circuiting a computer in the 50s making it crash constantly.

Why do people still use Windows even its not stable?
Just because they're used to it... mainly.

[phr0ze]

Microsoft started with the great idea of interoperability. They wanted programs to talk to each other. Security was not in mind those days. Unfortunately, they have to continue with some of these early decisions because of compatability. With every new release of windows, they turn off a little of this backwards compatability. Security improves but they also anger a lot of users.

[maybeway36]

You're always running with admin privliges. That's the big thing.

[C!oud]

The biggest thing is that Windows was able to start out very innovative with lots of new ideas but now the only thing that keeps them on top is because they have one hell of a marketing team in that almost every computer made has windows already installed on it. And obviously most viruses are going to be written for Windows if most people use it because those type of people want their viruses to cause maximum amount of damage.

[kwacka]

because windows in used in about 90% of worlds computers

Please, please stop repeating this Microsoft FUD.

The numbers of MS vs Linux users has minimal effect on the security of the two operating systems.

See: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/10/06/linux_vs_windows_viruses/

[aysiu]

Please, please stop repeating this Microsoft FUD.

The numbers of MS vs Linux users has minimal effect on the security of the two operating systems.

See: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/10/06/linux_vs_windows_viruses/
That article's outdated. You don't have to manually make a file executable.

As long as .deb is "cool" enough to double-click, gDebi will take care of the rest.

And "Lindows" (not Linspire) isn't the only Linux OS set up with terrible default permissions. Much as I love the Eee PC I have, the Xandros it comes with allows you to use sudo without any password authentication, so for most intents and purposes (particularly with regard to social engineering), you're running as root.

[cardinals_fan]

Whats wrong with Windows OS's?

Why can't they prevent Virus attacks?

Why does hackers attack Windows?

Do Microsoft lacks the knowledge against viruses or they keep their backdoors open?

Do people just hated Windows so they created viruses?

What is a bug?

What would you preffer Ubuntu or Windows?

Why do people still use Windows even its not stable?

1. For some people, nothing is wrong with Windows. For me, it's slow and restricts my ability to tweak.

2. Microsoft does try to prevent malware attacks, but they aren't miracle workers.

3. There are a lot of computers running Windows, most of them using a default user with administrative privileges. This makes them easy and common targets.

4. Microsoft tries to prevent viruses, but, as mentioned in #2, they're not perfect. Because Windows is closed-source, independent users cannot audit the code for holes.

5. Some people may create viruses for Windows out of hatred. Most malware (spyware, adware, etc.) is written to make a profit.

6. A bug is an error in the code for software.

7. I use Linux (mostly SLAX) and NetBSD instead of Windows because of the increased control over my system.

8. For many people, Windows is perfectly stable. Others are bound to Windows by software that they have to use.

[ysNoi]

I have nothing to answer about those questions above....

Just wanT to thanks for these very informative thread...

I'm just a 38 day old user of Ubuntu and a new world in Linux distro....! :guitar:

And finally, I had these answers equipped in mind..! A million of thanks....