The pros and cons of Unix and Windows security policies

Supporters frequently tout Windows NT as being the most secure commercially available operating system. Others tend to believe this opinion after hearing of Unix's many infamous security vulnerabilities. In reality, the two operating systems have far more in common from a security point of view...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IT professional 2000-09, Vol.2 (5), p.40-47
Main Authors: Viega, J., Voas, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Auditory system
Communication system security
Data encryption
Data security
Dictionaries
Disk operating systems
Drives
File systems
Hardware
Kernel
Operating systems
Passwords
Protection
Security clearances
Security systems
Software
Video sharing
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Summary:Supporters frequently tout Windows NT as being the most secure commercially available operating system. Others tend to believe this opinion after hearing of Unix's many infamous security vulnerabilities. In reality, the two operating systems have far more in common from a security point of view than people expect. This, then, makes it difficult to honestly assert that NT is more secure than Unix. By providing a brief introduction to the security architectures of Unix and Windows, we hope to convince readers that both operating systems have substantial merit from a security point of view and that neither operating system offers clearly superior security.
ISSN:1520-9202
1941-045X
DOI:10.1109/6294.877496