I think there might be a few more viruses for Linux, but not as many compared to Windows since it is simpler making viruses for Windows with VBscript, Visual Basic.net, ms-dos commad line, registry edits with .reg fies, batch files, activeX, visual C#, and other methods while programming languages which work for Linux or Mac like Phython, C, C++, Java looks a lot harder compared to Visual Basic, VBScript, MS-DOS Batch files in my experience from reading books & websites on Java, C languages, Linux command lines.
Plus, there are so many different operating systems for Linux like Puppy, Arch, Fedora, Mint, Ubuntu, OpenSuse, and they all probably work differently when it comes to security and how users install programs
Most Newbie Ubuntu and other linux users I know tend to use the "Ubuntu Software Center" or Software Center for their Distro with approve apps from the OS maker. Plus, many Linux distro also come with a lot of programs preinstalled like Firefox, OpenOffice, Gimp, FTP, and most average software many people need instead of having the user go on the internet to find software to install like windows which can lead to a lot of unwanted spyware and viruses. Installing programs in Linux distros also can be frustrating since you have to type in the root password, and sometimes grant "run/execute" permissions to the program, so I imagine a lot of newbie users avoid installing programs, and just use the programs which came with the OS.
There probably be more web browser add-on viruses for Firefox, Chrome, etc if Windows was not so popular since Firefox, Chrome add-ons are so easy to install in most cases.
There also be more people sending "social engineering" spam or making fake phone calls to trick people into revealing their username, password, bank account number, paypal info, etc by pretending to be a employee at a local bank.
There also might be more SQL injections where an intruder use SQL codes to paste into the login text box to gain access to a bank's website's admin account.
Plus, there are so many different operating systems for Linux like Puppy, Arch, Fedora, Mint, Ubuntu, OpenSuse, and they all probably work differently when it comes to security and how users install programs
Most Newbie Ubuntu and other linux users I know tend to use the "Ubuntu Software Center" or Software Center for their Distro with approve apps from the OS maker. Plus, many Linux distro also come with a lot of programs preinstalled like Firefox, OpenOffice, Gimp, FTP, and most average software many people need instead of having the user go on the internet to find software to install like windows which can lead to a lot of unwanted spyware and viruses. Installing programs in Linux distros also can be frustrating since you have to type in the root password, and sometimes grant "run/execute" permissions to the program, so I imagine a lot of newbie users avoid installing programs, and just use the programs which came with the OS.
There probably be more web browser add-on viruses for Firefox, Chrome, etc if Windows was not so popular since Firefox, Chrome add-ons are so easy to install in most cases.
There also be more people sending "social engineering" spam or making fake phone calls to trick people into revealing their username, password, bank account number, paypal info, etc by pretending to be a employee at a local bank.
There also might be more SQL injections where an intruder use SQL codes to paste into the login text box to gain access to a bank's website's admin account.