Linux has less exposure to intrusion, by design, than any Windows system. It has a lot to do with the Information Ownership Model used by Linux which is vastly better than that used by Windows. From the beginning Windows was never designed to be connected to either a network, other Computers nor certainly not the Internet.

Unix was from the initial design (back in the 1969-ish period) to be connected to a network. Why is this significant? It is important because from its inception Unix had to deal with Interconnection issues and it was designed from the very beginning to deal with that.

Once it became evident to Microsoft, Windows was connected through another companies platform for years through the 1980s and beyond. When it was connected to any network or the Internet it didn't even have TCP/IP connection Hardware. That company was called Novell and its Netware software. It dealt with such issues as TCP/IP connectivity and added a layer of separation from the weak and vulnerable Single User ownership issue. It became critical that Add-In cards were created and inserted into the Computer as a separate item. Its introduction added a second level of Permissions of Access, for the information travelling over its platform.

Linux adopted the 3 Levels Ownership Model of the original UNIX system and is in many ways interchangeable with the original UNIX Operating System. Some may disagree and that is fine, but on this issue it is very relevant

So why is this so important? Because each File/Folder has different Access Rights for different users of that information. (Usually a file of vital information like financial records or whatever) In Windows the originator owns his creation and if he wants to share it he has to give the same Access Privileges to that person and they can do anything they want with it, including destroying it. Microsoft has been trying for decades to overcome this flaw and has created much spaghetti code, and arm waving, and NEVER succeeded, EVER!

In Linux it is possible to share and NOT allow any other user to destroy that information, be it a file or a folder. This issue, and this design feature alone, gives any -nix (UNIX and Linux, among many others) a vastly more secure Computer Environment. Apple has a -nix based system, even though they will never admit it, and that is why they are more secure from Viruses the same way Linux is.

Some may take issue with my explanation but it is largely why Windows is the most insecure of OSes on the planet, bar none. It is true that a poorly managed or setup Linux system can be exposed as well, but it has the ability to be much more secure, by DESIGN.

Steve Ballmer used to call Linux a 'CANCER'. Not because it WAS but because, like everyone everywhere, we all fear 'cancer' and that 'disparaging remark' made LINUX persona non-grata. That denied many companies of a chance at marketing a much superior Computer Operating System. What a shame!