IF you go by what the mainstream press reports, you’d think there were only two computer desktop operating systems in the world—Windows and Mac OS. This notion would be most unfortunate because it might keep you or your company from exploring Linux as a reliable, secure and powerful desktop operating system for your PC that’s cheaper than the two proprietary platforms.

The Linux operating system has already been proven to be very reliable and secure. It is often the most popular operating system found on web servers largely accredited to its track record in security, but can it be improved?

A Dutch university has landed a European Research Council grant to continue work on a Unix-type operating system that aims to be more reliable and secure than Linux or Microsoft Windows.

Operating systems seem to have received more attention these days than they have ever before, and while there are numerous available discussion points, in relation to new versions of these operating systems, one of the biggest trends that has been fascinating to watch is how people are switching operating systems like crazy.

Linux-based systems get a lot of press in IT trade publications. A lot of that press relates to its security characteristics.

Sure, It's Secure: "Your desktops' operating systems? Your servers' operating systems? Your firewall? Or..."

We, the undersigned, urge all computer makers implementing UEFI's so-called "Secure Boot" to do it in a way that allows free software operating systems to be installed. To respect user freedom and truly protect user security, manufacturers must either allow computer owners to disable the boot restrictions, or provide a sure-fire way for them to install and run a free software operating system of their choice. We commit that we will neither purchase nor recommend computers that strip users of this critical freedom, and we will actively urge people in our communities to avoid such jailed systems.

After using computers for over twenty five years, I was suddenly struck by the thought that I do not know what to do with a fully functioning, uncrashable, secure and attractive operating system. For me a computer has always been a toy, something to be played with and tweaked to squeeze out every possible advantage.

It's been said over and over again, that Linux is one of the most secure operating systems today. And, it's been proven over and over that it is quite secure. Knowing this, there's no surprise that Linux has been chosen as the primary platform for our most critical applications and appliances.