hacking Linux and Win 2061

There are thousands of people looking at the source to Linux, but only a few want to make malicious use of what they see, while the vast majority will *fix* anything that isn't right. With Windows there are significantly fewer people with access, and the vast majority of those who find a security hole are specifically looking for ways to exploit such problems.

But there are other basic reasons too.

Microsoft's OS began as a quick way to make money. It is still very little else. They do *not* spend time and effort on theories of how to produce a better OS. The effort is entirely targeting *money*.

Compare that to unix in general, and Linux in specific. Money has never been a factor. Originally it was simply the brightest group of computer scientist in the world (hired by Bell Labs for precisely that reason) researching what makes the *best* *operating* *system*. Linus Torvalds came along 20 years later, and picked up that exact same ball and continued to play.

There would of course be a significant difference in the products from those two efforts, and there is no argument that each has been superbly successful! Bill Gates has indeed made more money that anyone else ever, which was his goal. And Linux is indeed the best OS ever designed, which is what the Bell Labs people and Linus Torvalds set for their goal.

I figure that people who are logical can choose how they want to participate in each development. Investing in Microsoft stock has always been a good decision, and installing Linux on your computer is equally correct. (I'm not sure that will continue to be true in the future though, as it doesn't appear that Microsoft is likely to continue the same level of performance.)

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