How to be completely safe online
One of the most commonly suggested solutions to security problems is to switch to a different operating system. Fifteen years ago VMS users like myself used to tell users of UNIX that they could stop the daily crashes and constant security scares if only they switched to a real operating system like VMS.
Security architecture does have an impact on the level of security achieved but anyone who tells you that the original UNIX architects were designing an architecture for the Internet age needs to take a look at the respective invention dates for UNIX, the Internet (hint, much of the early development of the Internet took place on UNIX platforms).
Let us imagine that there are two platform providers: A and B. A decides to invest heavily in auditing their platform for security vulnerabilities, B does not. Who would we expect to have the higher rate of security bug reports A or B? Its A right? So why do people still quote the number of security vulnerabilities patched as a measure of insecurity?
Even the number of observed security failures does not necessarily reflect a difference in the security of the platform. Internet criminals are interested in return on their investment. They will select the dominant platform in the market for the same reason that application developers do - the biggest pond offers the most opportunity, the most return.
So even though moving to a minority platform may be a viable strategy for an individual to adopt to reduce their risk the success of this strategy depends on the number of other people doing the same thing being small enough that it is not worth the criminal's while to adapt (this criteria applies to many security measures, not just O/S choice).
If you want to have security by chosing an obscure platform do not chose Linux and certainly don't choose Mac, they have way too many users. Some might suggest VMS or Open Genera but these platforms still have a die-hard following waiting for a resurgence. The choice is obvious and can be bought on EBay for a modest sum.
