It's not perfect, and it's not the "fix" for all that ails us, BUT ...

RIGHT NOW, while most others are using Windows, THEY provide the targetfor virus and other forms of malware attacks. Once LINUX is in the majority of computers connected to the internet, IT will become the target. I don't know that I'll live long enough to see that, however, so I will use LINUX whenever I can.

Also, the system(s) that I use for the purpose of generating useful work aren't internet-, or even LAN- connected. When files have to be exported to the outside world, it's done via "sneakernet", meaning that it's written to removable media that's not routinely accessible to the OS (tape), and files that have to be brought in via the internet don't find their way onto the important computers.

Strict protocols, burdensome, for sure, are used to regulate the use of removable media aside from tape, which is not "seen" by the OS as mass storage, hence, isn't "p*ssed-on" by the OS-hosted virus as soon as it "sees" it, in the way Windows disk drives are. That way, we keep the "clean" systems clean. That way, malware isn't the issue that it is for some organizations. Since magnetic tape is no longer readily available, I suspec it will not be the target of malware of any sort in the future. Since the OS I'm most likely to be using for the production of useful work is an OLD OS, e.g. DOS or Windows v3.1x, I think I'm safe. Those boxes that have to run "current" software will do so, but their work product will not find its way onto the systems that are really important.

RE