Ubuntu More Secure Than Leopard, Windows Vista?

[Crushdepth]

Ubuntu more secure than Leopard, Windows Vista?

Ubuntu Linux was the only system left unscathed in a multi-platform hacking competition last week, but does that mean it is more secure?

Apple's Leopard OS lasted 30 seconds, Windows Vista Ultimate lasted until the third day, but Ubuntu's Linux distribution alone was left secure at the end of the "Pwn to Own contest" at CanSecWest security conference held in Vancouver.

James Turner, a security analyst from IBRS said that "in this particular instance, which supports the conclusion that Ubuntu is more secure." However, he said the result is unlikely to cause an increased uptake of Linux amongst business users.

Source (for the rest): Zdnet.com.au

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Ok Apple Lovers, here's another chance for you to do some Mac defending...if you can tear yourself away from the Chardonnay that is

[nikster]

I think it means the MacBook Air was the most desirable of the three machines

Also ubuntu was left unscathed but the prize money you'd get for hacking it decreased every day so at some point it wasn't really worth it anymore. I think the Mac team had prepared well by finding a Safari zero day exploit before the contest even started, and then using it to snag $20k and the MBA - not bad at all. Next year they'll do that to Ubuntu too. Vista, I am not sure if it's harder to find zero days, or if they would fetch more on the black market....

[slackula]

Ok Apple Lovers, here's another chance for you to do some Mac defending...if you can tear yourself away from the Chardonnay that is

No Chardonnay here tonight: Saeng Som and soda is my choice of poison. Posting from my iMac that I like but the Slackware ThinkPad is my go-to machine. If you like Vista then use it, knock yourself out and let the rest of us alone.

The fact that the attack was done via a phishing site is more a reflection on Safari than OS X as a whole in my opinion, and I don't think even the biggest MS fanboi would like to discuss Internet Explorer vulnerabilities. Bear in mind that Leopard is fully UNIX certified.

I'll defend Macs because I think that the GUI is the most advanced that I have come across, I like the hardware design and I enjoy using it. I will fight to the death to defend Slackware because of the simple layout of all configuration scripts and the fact that it is hands down the best server OS that I have come across with great workstation capabilities.

Do you care to address my points or are you just here to gloat and be yet another shill for MS?

Oh yeah, and feel free to try to attack my computer(s) with your kiddie-scripts if you wish, I'll enjoy it.

[Crushdepth]

No I was just shi_it stirring Personally I use a combination of Vista and Ubuntu, I used to use Macs but that was too long ago to be worth mentioning really. And I hadn't started on bashing Slackware yet. Anyway, if it ships with a hole, it has a hole, OS or not

[RKASA]

The hackers said they used java exploit and could have done any linux running it. Its a draw java lost.

[dave_boo]

Very bad summary by the OP....OSX lasted 1 day and 30 seconds. It wasn't till the second day of the competition, when they were able to use the phishing technique they were able to score. Hence the general feeling they had this planned with an exploit already written. Also, since we don't know if the people who were able to "pwn" the MacBook were then allowed to attempt the Linux box, we don't actually know wether or not the Java bug would have affected Linux. Another thing that has bothered me is that I don't know if Java is in the default install on Apple products...perhaps someone could shine some light on that? Because if it isn't, than it wasn't a Java exploit that got the MacBook, since 'generally used' programs weren't installed at that time.

[A_Traveller]

Java is installed by default on Apple OS'.

Regards