Often repeated, but wrong.
Windows v Linux security: the real facts
Myth Windows only gets attacked most because it's such a big target, and if Linux use (or indeed OS X use) grew then so would the number of attacks.
Fact When it comes to web servers, the biggest target is Apache, the Internet's server of choice. Attacks on Apache are nevertheless far fewer in number, and cause less damage. And in some case Apache-related attacks have the most serious effect on Windows machines. Attacks are of course aimed at Windows because of the numbers of users, but its design makes it a much easier target, and much easier for an attack to wreak havoc. Windows' widespread (and often unnecessary) use of features such as RPC meanwhile adds vulnerabilities that really need not be there. Linux's design is not vulnerable in the same ways, and no matter how successful it eventually becomes it simply cannot experience attacks to similar levels, inflicting similar levels of damage, to Windows.
Fact When it comes to web servers, the biggest target is Apache, the Internet's server of choice.
Sure. Apache is run everywhere. But in OS discussions we are talking about the end user's desktop or laptop, not at the host...though we do see plenty of the effects of them, as well as serverside script hacks, SQL injections, etc., all the time.
I had to leave a host because of these. The morons outsourced all their work to Russia. Brilliant. Right into the belly of the beast.
Reality:
Corel hurries to fix Linux security hole
The company is working to patch a bug with its version of Linux that could let unauthorized users gain access to machines running Corel Linux.
http://news.cnet.com/Corel-hurries-to-fix-Linux-security-hole/2100-1001_3-236140.html
Security hole found in Linux
Programmers identify a vulnerability in the heart of Linux that could let people take control of their own systems—even if they don't have privileges to do so.
http://news.cnet.com/Security-hole-found-in-Linux/2100-1016_3-993278.html
Linux handheld suffers from security hole
University researchers discover a security problem with Sharp's Zaurus handheld, which uses the Linux operating system. Watch out while on wireless networks.
http://news.cnet.com/Linux-handheld-suffers-from-security-hole/2100-1040_3-943163.html
Study: Windows has fewest security holes
But it beats Red Hat and Mac OS X on number of critical flaws, according to latest threat report from Symantec.
http://news.cnet.com/Study-Windows-has-fewest-security-holes/2100-1002_3-6169956.html