Which OS is the easiest for an user to harden against threats?

[Ink]

I felt like this is a good question to ask since there are millions of Windows users, then Linux and macOS users. But which in your opinion (or experience) is the most easiest to setup and configure against modern Internet threats?

Threats may include but not limited to malicious applications, social engineering and other types of scams, man in the middle attacks, loggers and capture tools..

...

People say Linux can be a lot more secure and safer than Windows, but from experience I have found Linux (Ubuntu/Mint) the most challenging OS to secure and verify that I was protected against these threats. I found myself reconsidering if Linux felt safer to use everyday, over the widely exploited Windows 10 OS and Apps.

Using any 2 of the OS in the Poll, is enough for a vote. Then in the section below comment on your reasons for your choice and what OS was most challenging.

All votes are public.

 

[TheSuperGeek]

I think linux is the easier :
firewall (like gufw)
a root password
common sense
and that's all. You have some repository that can be trusted so there is no malware inside of it.
You can access to apps source code if you want to audit it.
So yes maybe linux is the more secure OS, but it can be easy to secure it for home use (gufw, clamtk & common sense). But if you need advanced things it's a bit more difficult i agree

 

[Svoll]

I feel MacOS Sierra, would be easiest and most simple. Download a security suite with firewall, patch the camera, and pretty much everything is done.

Linux is secured, but is not as user friendly as MacOs.

That's my Vote, cheers everyone!

 

[509322]

I assume the question is meant to mean "Which OS is the easiest for a user to harden against threats ?"

Windows

There are extensive hardening guides for Windows 7/8/8.1/10 online as well as freeware and paid softs that can be run by the user to apply a broad range of OS hardening all at one time.

Linux is mostly security by using an OS that is not widely used, and therefore not widely targeted - which isn't a bad thing. It is just a different security tactic.

Which OS is more secure if masterfully hardened and used ? - Linux

Just my own personal take on it.

 

[SHvFl]

The least used which should be the mac.

 

[ttto]

OS Sierra and Linux, are not as used as Windows, so are less targeted than Windows. You can survive easier without security software than Windows in my opinion.

 

[shmu26]

with a little knowledge, there are various ways you can put Windows in a lockdown config, and also slap on HitmanPro.Alert to protect your internet-facing apps from exploits.

I don't know how you are going to lock down your system, and protect your browser from information harvesting, when you are running Mac or Linux. You just don't have the software for that level of protection.

 

[Sr. Normal 2.0]

Linux here. It is strangely simple to "forget" to install an antivirus when working with linux and feel your computer is protected

 

[ForgottenSeer 55778]

Linux; no antivirus needed.

 

[Ink]

Linux; no antivirus needed.

That's not what I was asking, can you blindly configure Linux without knowing the first thing about Linux?

 

[Ink]

I assume the question is meant to mean "Which OS is the easiest for a user to harden against threats ?".

Yes and thank you, I have corrected the title.

 

[Exterminator]

I believe that often the least used can be the most difficult to secure.
Whether that is from a false sense of security or that it just doesn't happen as often as something more mainstream is open to debate.
I agree with @Lockdown in that Windows is probaby the easiest to secure.Windows 10 more so than previous versions.
With a myrid of software and tools available that cover just about everything it has been my experience that Windows seems quite simple to secure.
LInux is probably the more secure OS when secured correctly but then again it is more difficult to secure than Windows.
Mac OS,since I have not used it,I cannot really give an opinion. However since it is used less than Windows and is more exploited now than in the past it seems that it would be more of a challenge than Windows.
Complacency that other operating systems,since they are not as exploited as others,do not need any kind of security programs makes exploiting them easier and hence more diffiucult to secure.

 

[TheSuperGeek]

That's not what I was asking, can you blindly configure Linux without knowing the first thing about Linux?

I have to say, a lot of people will don't agree with me, but linux isn't for users that don't know anything... there is a lot of things that making me thinking linux isn't for begginers. You have to know a little in computers before using it. (yes a little only)

 

[Dani Santos]

I think Windows 10. You literally just install the OS and it already has Windows Defender and Windows Firewall installed and good to go, with some common sense that should be enough. Plus the extra tools like Smart screen filter, constant Windows Patches and UAC.

 

[Like a Western!]

Linux, but IMO still needs antivirus.

 

[MalwareBlockerYT]

Linux is more secure as an OS because it's targetted less than Windows. Windows is the main target for almost all cyber criminals & therefore has a harder time + their default protection isn't the best & you really should get a different AV to Defender in my opinion.

I may get Linux Ubuntu on my main SSD & dual boot it with Windows because Windows 10 is annoying & Linux seems really good...

 

[Bryan Lam]

I'd say Windows, The reason for this as because it is the most widely used and recognised OS, there are basically hundreds of thousands of tools to protect you against infections and exploits or whatever, Whereas linux is a less used Operating System and is more open as it is technically made for developers in my opinion, the only thing is that with more linux distros coming out, the more secure they can get.

But imo, Windows.

 

[askmark]

I vote Linux. Reason being, I can install pretty much any home distro and without changing a thing know that I'm not going to be a victim of ransomware. Just google "Linux ransomware" and see what I mean.

 

[Handsome Recluse]

Linux is more secure as an OS because it's targetted less than Windows. Windows is the main target for almost all cyber criminals & therefore has a harder time + their default protection isn't the best & you really should get a different AV to Defender in my opinion.

I may get Linux Ubuntu on my main SSD & dual boot it with Windows because Windows 10 is annoying & Linux seems really good...

Wouldn't there being many Linux and only one Windows also help in it being harder and less economic to target?

 

[sudo -i]

Linux. I feel like a lot of people are delusional if the majority of votes are almost in Windows' favour. I understand the question is "which OS is easiest to harden", and while Windows has a much more straightforward path to hardening the OS, the easiest OS to harden is the OS that requires the least amount of hardening to begin with. So basically Linux/Mac.