What is the most secure OS?

[EphesiaNZ]

According to a recent study by the UK government, Ubuntu has come out on top as the most secure OS out there. Take a look at the following,

http://insights.ubuntu.com/wp-content/uploads/UK-Gov-Report-Summary.pdf

What do you think?

 

[C-Man]

Multics would be the safest today.

Failing that, probably Arch Linux.

 

[MrJim]

I've run OS X for 7 or so years with no security breaches~figure Linux would even be more secure...figure the malicious hacker has more to gain from the sheep though an enterprising one could make a formidable reputation crashing Cupertino HQ

 

[HantsUK]

The most secure systems maintain an 'air gap' with the public internet - i.e. they are not connected! Accessing the public internet means using a different computer (probably in a different room?), with strict limits on transferring data between systems (not allowed). For example: USB ports removed, or or you are required to wear overalls with no pockets (to prevent anyone secretly taking in a memory stick). Even Windows 95 would then be secure!

 

[Sketcher]

According to a recent study by the UK government, Ubuntu has come out on top as the most secure OS out there. Take a look at the following,

http://insights.ubuntu.com/wp-content/uploads/UK-Gov-Report-Summary.pdf

What do you think?

Their recent data mining through Unity notwithstanding?

In all seriousness, I do not know of an OS more secure than Linux, but I can tell you that Linux is mortal. Root compromises happen, and not just through compromised passwords (though that accounts for most of them). Keep your kernel up-to-date. Keep wheel users to an absolute minimum. Don't use WHMCS's WHM plugin (I know they patched it, but I still can't abide it). Don't use mod_ruid2. Don't use old SSH protocols. And so forth.

 

[EphesiaNZ]

Their recent data mining through Unity notwithstanding?

In all seriousness, I do not know of an OS more secure than Linux...

Haha, those Unity scopes are a blot on the landscape for the OS, at least they can be disabled. Linux or BSD's are not perfect (nothing is) and as we know, the more stuff you add the greater the attack vector you present to those who want to exploit you.

As HantsUK says the best security step is to unplug a PC from the net but, this renders a typical PC pretty much useless in todays world.

 

[Spinnaker]

I've run OS X for 7 or so years with no security breaches~figure Linux would even be more secure...figure the malicious hacker has more to gain from the sheep though an enterprising one could make a formidable reputation crashing Cupertino HQ

I'm in the same boat, I've been using OS X virtually since it's inception with no ill effects, no breaches in security - nothing. Cheetah all the way up to Mavericks.

Now I don't doubt that Linux is ultimately the safest since it occupies a smaller market share, but I think OS X is pretty close.