[URL unfurl="true"]https://documents.trendmicro.com/assets/white_papers/wp-an-in-depth-look-at-windows-kernel-threats.pdf[/URL]
Kernel protection apart from being ineffective (malware authors still gain kernel access mostly via BYOVD abuse), is far from being sufficient. Malware can do a lot even in user mode. Linux is a lot more secure for various reasons, including but not limited to:
- Very frequent updates that are not known to be nightmare - users more likely to install them and patch the vulnerabilities, whereas on Windows many users just don't dare obtain that last update as they are not sure what will stop working this time.
- Small market share - lack of incentive.
- Usually if you have heard about, installed and using Linux, it means you are a geek and you are less likely to be tricked into executing malware.
- Lack of cracked software on torrents, enough software for day to day usage either pre-installed or available with few clicks for free.
There are various security mitigations in systems like Ubuntu as well, just like there are in Windows and Mac OS. More can be read here:
[URL unfurl="true"]https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Security/Features[/URL]
