Mum doesn't know best
Well mom, about the factors that make Linux 'safer' than Windows. It is safer and more secure than ANY version of MS Windows.
But there is more to it than the safety, security and anonymity it provides. Try MONEY as a reason to use it.
I decided to try Linux over a year ago after Microsoft began their push to coerce a billion windows users to upgrade to Windows 10. The effort pissed off a multitude of PC users around the world, giving rise to movements like "Never10". I loaded a vintage Dell Optiplex tower with Linux Mint 17 and began to learn. To be honest, I've been an IT professional for 25 years.
I quickly discovered that it was easy to use, extremely resource friendly and gave a user access to FREE programs that will do anything as well or better than what Microsoft or any of their co-conspirators can sell us. Have made the conversion in my home and personal business to all-linux and never looked back. For Windows-only programs that you absolutely must have, there is Oracle VirtualBox running Windows, or Wine emulation. More and more games are available for Linux through Steam, and other gaming communities. My mom loves her Linux Mint home workstation and her fully encrypted Linux Mint laptop for her Bitcoin trading. I've retired my Windows Server 2003 home server for an Ubuntu Server. All are solid, reliable, and easy to use.
Purchase less expensive Dell refurb towers and laptops and load them with Linux Mint. You'll save a ton of money, have a lot of fun with Mint, and you get to stick your thumb in the eye of Microsoft by denying that evil giant your hard earned cash!
Mac Nation
As a side note, and it really pains me to say this, but for the longest time, Mac was a lot more secure than Windows, for the same reason that Linux is a lot more secure than the both of them. The fact that so many are using Windows, that's what virus-programmers are going to spend all of their time working on.
However, with the wake of iPhones and the fact that they are growing in usage in a rapid pace; more and more people are starting to write viruses, hacks and worms for Mac. So, Mac is losing more and more security with every passing moment.
There's also something that I don't think anyone is taking into consideration, and that is the fact that I will bet dollars to doughnuts that the vast majority of the kind of people that are going to write viruses, hacks and worms are going to be using Linux. They don't want to get busted doing what it is that they are doing, so they are going to be using the security that is a Linux OS. Just something to take into consideration.
Now, the discussion becomes, which distro/kernel of linux is the most secure and the best to use with TOR. Now, I should probably state the old cliche that you get what you pay for. If I am not mistaken, the only kernel of Linux that you have to pay for is Red Hat. I would recommend, if you can afford it, and you would like to support Linux, that that is the one that you should get. I, myself, am a big fan of Ubuntu, and that is the primary OS on the laptop that I use to get on TOR. Mine is okay, I guess, but if you're not going to use Ubuntu, than I would probably recommend Tails.
Just some things to take into consideration, and I hope that you find all of this information helpful - that's both Steemians and my mom!
