Survey: Windows Developers Say Linux More Secure
Is Linux built more securely than Windows? According to a new survey, Windows and Linux developers both say yes—and for the first time, ranked it ahead of Windows XP. The September 2003 study from market-research firm Evans Data Corp. surveyed more than 500 North American participants, including VARs, ISVs, OEMs and corporate developers, according to Esther Schindler, senior analyst with Santa Cruz, Calif.-based Evans.
Linux scored high for innate security among respondents, more than two- thirds of whom "use or target Windows with their code." Indeed, only 23 percent of the developers were primarily Linux developers (an increase of 4 percent from a similar survey six months ago).
"It's not all that surprising that Linux is viewed as more secure by software developers," Schindler said. "Windows has had nearly weekly critical security updates from Microsoft, and three of four developers target Windows. Development experience talks."
