Why does Microsoft and Apple suffer from security vulnerabilities? The obvious answer is that they are such a large target. However, that does not explain it all. Most of the security vulnerabilities today are coming from third-party applications, and both Windows and Mac machines are at a significant risk because they carry a lot of these apps. Moreover, those apps are not always automatically updated, this in turn, leave the computers vulnerable and subject to attacks.
To be sure, both Microsoft and Apple are no slouches when it comes to designing comprehensive updating systems for their software. This applies to both the OS as well as apps that run on top of the OS. The problem occurs with the software, which are programs, extensions, and plug-ins, to say the least, which come from third-party vendors. Then coupled with the inconsistent methods they use for updating their code to protect against known flaws and you have vulnerable systems.
Yet Ubuntu, provides a different approach one where there’s one comprehensive software updating system. Ubuntu has a centralized repository of applications system. The only third-party applications that slide into the main repository are the ones that comply and pass the tests given by Canonical, the company that produces Ubuntu. If they pass and prove to work with the OS, they are in. This allows Ubuntu’s main repository to always have the very latest version of Google or Opera, for example. So the one it does have will usually install easily, work smoothly, and remain updated automatically.
Managing Ubuntu’s software program bank is the task of an administrator tool called Synaptic Package Manager. However, there is a different way to browse through the official Ubuntu-sanctioned applications. That is through the Ubuntu Software Center. It has been known to resemble the App Store.
The Ubuntu Software Library is similar to the iPhone App Store or the Android Market, at least from a user perspective. Here, you open it up, browse or search through a variety of applications categories, and download the ones that you want to try. Sound familiar? It is basically an app store for the PC.
