Our software is not based on Microsoft Windows operating system and hence we are immune. We operate on Linux software which is not affected by the ransomware attack, CEO, Goods and Services Tax Network, Prakash Kumar told PTI. Amongst zillions of reactions on social media to the unprecedented ransomware attack, the one peculiar notion that popped again and again was as to how we all need to move to Linux, and, well, Windows sucks.
How true is that? Is a Linux-based operating system completely immune to the ransomware attacks? Are Linux-based distros any better than Windows Operating Systems as far as cyber-security is concerned?
Firstly, it is to be understood that Linux has a very miniscule market share in the operating system market. If we discount the market share of Googles Android, as of April 2017, Linux approximately has 0.77% market share. Any cyber-criminal aims to target as many users as possible, and thats why they attack the player with the largest market share Microsoft Windows. The WannaCry ransomware wont affect the Linux-powered machines because it was not made for the Linux-based operating systems. Moreover, its not as if there have been no ransomware attacks on Linux. In November 2015, a ransomware named Linux.Encoder.1 made headlines for affecting some dozens of Linux users. Wannacry infected approximately 300000 computers. You get the idea!
The idea is simple if you dont have the money to upgrade to the latest Windows operating system, move to Linux, because, piracy and price issues are antithetical to the world of Linux. Linux based operating systems are mostly free to use. Even the enterprise solutions, like Ubuntu Server, OpenSuse Linux Enterprise, and Red Hat Enterprise, come at a fraction of what Microsoft charges. So, the inability to update/upgrade arising out of piracy/price issues is ruled out.
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