would changing to Linux lessen the junkmail and viruses etc

[bluedolphin]

I read in an article that one of the reasons spam and viruses get into MS operating systems is that MS will not share the source code for windows (though in same article it says India and Chinese govts have access to it )....is this over simplifyng the situation

[j2buttonsw]

Howdy bluey, you are fundamentally correct in thinking Linux is a better OS for virus protection but not, I feel, for spam. Because Windows is so ubiquitous, it has become the target of choice for virus authors: there are relatively few Mac OS/Linux viruses. Bear in mind that these people have a lot of time on their hands and as Linux becomes more popular then the amount of viruses will correspondingly increase. As for spam, doesn�t that reflect your e-mail address rather than what system you use to manage it? Or are you referring to anti-spam utilities in-built with Linux? Linux is great and the Gnome GUI looks very much like Windows but I have always though: why use a Windows wannabe when I can use the real thing? That�s not fair, I just want Linux to be Windows and I think Windows does a better job at it.

[WoWo]

Linux is seen as some revolutionary symbol in the computer world, a free OS in competition with the evil Microsoft. The idea that there are viruses because Microsoft won't release the source code is simply linked to bad feeling about this rather than a technicall reason. Its true there are far fewer viruses around for Linux but on the subject of spam there's no real benefit going over to Linux. I have worked in I.T. as a developer for 10 years so I'm pretty good with computers but Linux was just way too much effort for 0 gain in my opinion. I have Windows XP, I have never had a virus, don't get spam and have no problems. Setting up Linux is a major effort, if you use half as much effort as that on Windows its will be as secure.

[dj_ajax]

I think your the first person ive heard of yet thats had no problems with windows Xp i would never touch it. I have linux, windows me and 2000. Linux has its own uses for example for web servers as it handles large amounts of data better than windows. Yes it is difficult to use but it is also very much more customisable than windows ever will be.

[WoWo]

What car do you drive dj_ajax. I suggest you get a kit car as they are much better for customisation. :) I didn't say Linux was rubbish far from it just that your average man in the street just cares about something working. he want's to pop a disk in a drive and for it to work. I have XP here at work and at home and I can honestly say hand on heart its no more hassle than Win 2000 and whole lot less hassle than Linux. I think its more a case of people beig trendy and slagging of windows. I'll give you a quick example to prove my point, I installed XP and as soon as it started I could connect to web via my broadband (didn't have to do a thing), after 6 weeks of trying I uninstalled Linux because I couldn't connect to the internet.

[tomd]

Linux runs a lot better on lower spec pcs than XP, I have it on an 300mhz for playing music and it's as smooth as XP on my 1300