IT pros navigating a minefield of insecure software and systems are finding safe ground in Linux. That's because the open-source operating system—in part due to its very openness—has become a model of security.

For one thing, Linux benefits from its similarities to Unix, long considered the most bulletproof operating system. Once hardened, Unix is nearly impenetrable—and much of this security translates nicely to Linux.

For another, Linux has a global community of programmers continually evaluating the source code. That kind of scrutiny means flaws are typically discovered very quickly.

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