The kernel of the argument (Washington Post)

The Washington Post has a lengthy look into an unusual subject for the mainstream press: Linux kernel security. There are quotes from Linus Torvalds and others in the kernel community along with some from various security researchers. The thrust seems to be that the kernel has been slow to adopt defensive mechanisms, which is a topic that also came up at the Kernel Summit. "The rift between Torvalds and security experts is a particular source of worry for those who see Linux becoming the dominant operating system at a time when technology is blurring the borders between the online and offline worlds. Much as Windows long was the standard for personal computers, Linux runs on most of the Internet's servers. It also operates on medical equipment, sensitive databases and computers on many kinds of vehicles, including tiny drones and warships.'If you don't treat security like a religious fanatic, you are going to be hurt like you can't imagine. And Linus never took seriously the religious fanaticism around security,' said Dave Aitel, a former National Security Agency research scientist and founder of Immunity, a Florida-based security company."