Mandrake Linux security question

wardialer · 09-24-2004, 09:38 AM

Just wondering, is Mandrake Linux a bit more secure or stable than Windows or does it depend on the distro?

Skyline · 09-24-2004, 12:30 PM

Both Mandrake and Windows can be made more secure than they are "out of the box". For both you should regularly add security patches, use strong passwords, disable any un-necessary services, use a Firewall, run in a Limited user account etc etc...(as far as is poss with Windows). One notable feature with Mandrake is its securty levels - with a simple click you can change security level - and within each level you can fine-grain options further - the "higher" level is "tight" - almost claustraphobic

Proud · 09-24-2004, 01:21 PM

Plus of course with linux you have a firewall system build into the kernel, and regular updates to every piece of software, as well as being able to see and turn off unwanted services (unlike windows and its recent spate of RPC exploits). An important point is unix/linux systems were designed to be secure terminals for many users which connected to a central mainframe, whereas windows was designed as a stand alone single user desktop with security and networking added as an afterthough.

Skyline · 09-24-2004, 02:38 PM

Another point worth mentioning is the tendancy for XP Home users to run in an Admin account instead of utilising XP Home's "Limited account" feature - contrast this with a typical desktop Linux user that'd typically always run in a limited priviledge user account.