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We have to include Morris because it shows that this problem HAS and DOES exist in OSes outside of Windows.

No, you include the Morris Worm because you want to try to provide an excuse for Windows to be as bad as it is.

Everybody is vulnerable, the only question is how vulnerable. Is Windows the most vulnerable? Yes. Is there an OS out there that is invulnerable? No.

Absolutely true, if a bit simple.

Actually, it goes like this. All operating systems have bugs. Some of the bugs cause security issues. Most operating systems have a few active exploits. And then there is Windows which has tens of thousands of them.

It's like pointing to the creek near your house in Colorado and saying, "Look. Water. We have to be careful living near water because some people get hit with tsunamis!"

It’s good to note your original reply was to the idea that AV is an application function not an OS function and stated that’s why Linux is better. Because as it turns out almost everybody that makes AV for Windows (including the company that wrote this article) also makes AV for Linux.

I'm glad you brought that up. My Unix-based mail server runs an anti-virus. You know why?

Because Windows machines keep sending me mail that's infected with viruses. And if I forward a piece of mail that's got a virus attached my users will be upset.

I'm not worried that my mail server will become infected. In fact, the virus scanner only scans incoming mail, not the rest of the system.

Now as for everything else: stop nuancing like Kerry. You said something silly, you said no other OS has this problem, now you’re trying to redefine “this problem”. This problem is malware and ALL OSes have this problem, some have MORE but they all have it. You can nuance until you have to buy a new keyboard and it won’t make your statement not silly.

There is still a world of difference between "All OSs have this problem" and "One OS has tens of thousands more problems than all the rest."

If Windows had a few dozen viruses out there, then sure, you'd have a point.

But it's not even close. Windows is a malware cesspool with millions of infected PCs world-wide. Attempting to say that it's the same as a few Unix and Linux viruses is either stupid, pollyanna-ish or intentionally deceiving.

Just keep trying to say that tens of viruses is equal to tens of thousands. We won't laugh at you.

Much.

No I included Morris because it proved this statement from you: other operating systems don’t seem to have this problem, to be false. Morris, as a very high profile Unix worm, shows that other OSes DO seem to have this problem. It’s not like Morris was the last Unix malware, it just was the highest profile one.

It’s funny how your number of Windows viruses keeps going up. Hyperbole much?

These are mostly client AV apps, basically the same product they make for Windows only for Linux, not mail server AV.

Linux has nearly a thousand, and the number was half that in 2005. Viruses happen. Viruses happen to everybody. Once again showing that you’re statement was wrong, other OSes do seem to have this problem.

I’m not saying anything about equal, that’s nuancing again. I’m saying that this statement “other operating systems don’t seem to have this problem” is WRONG, other OSes not only SEEM to have this problem, the DO have it. All OSes have malware, period. And you can jump your number from thousands to tens of thousands and even to millions if you want, it doesn’t change the simple fact that Windows is not alone. Your statement was wrong. Now stop nuancing, man up and admit you said something silly.

But it's not even close. Windows is a malware cesspool with millions of infected PCs world-wide.

Indeed, it appears that Conficker alone has a pool of some 7 million infected computers to its name:

After One Year, Conficker Infects 7 Million Computers

Robert McMillan, IDG News Service
Friday, October 30, 2009 1:40 PM PDT
The Conficker worm has passed a dubious milestone. It has now infected more than 7 million [m] computers, security experts estimate.
On Thursday, researchers at the volunteer-run Shadowserver Foundation logged computers from more than 7 million unique IP addresses, all infected by the known variants of Conficker.
[...]

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/181103/after_one_year_conficker_infects_7_million_computers.html