What's the difference between Linux and Android?

[Randell]

Is Android as stable as Linux? Is Android as secure as Linux? Etc..........

 

[OverByter]

Is Android as stable as Linux? Is Android as secure as Linux? Etc..........

It's pretty much impossible to answer your question, there are many different versions of both Linux and Android. Plus it's apples and oranges, same as asking the question but substituting Windows and MacOS. And as far as stability is concerned that has more to do with the manufacturer of your phone and their device drivers than the Android version that you're running.

 

[Crashdamage]

The difference, put very simply...

Linux is a kernel, which is the most basic part of any OS. What is commonly called Linux is a Linux kernel + the necessary software to make a usable OS, aka a Linux distribution.

Android is similar to a Linux distro in that it's a Linux kernel + software, but in Android software runs 'inside' a Java-based virtual machine called a Dalvik VM. This is what is referred to when it is said that Android runs applications 'sandboxed'.

Remember, this is an oversimplified explanation, there's other major differences.

Regarding security and stability...

Properly used, Linux is *very* secure and stable. Properly used, Android is also very secure and stable, though probably slightly less secure. A rooted phone is a bit less secure than a non-rooted one. Both Linux and Android are completely unaffected by viruses since there are no Linux viruses.

 

[MachDelta]

Both Linux and Android are completely unaffected by viruses since there are no Linux viruses.

Oh please no. Not this again.
Any operating system that gains widespread popularity has malware written for it. Period. No OS or kernel is ever immune. Just small enough to be overlooked, tight enough to be difficult to exploit, and/or so frequently updated that the malware never reaches critical mass. But infections still happen and will always happen.

 

[Crashdamage]

Malware, yes. There's some. There's NO Linux or Android viruses. NONE. Viruses are a type of malware, but not all malware is a virus. That's very important distinction to keep in mind.

 

[danaj]

Malware, yes. There's some. There's NO Linux or Android viruses. NONE. Viruses are a type of malware, but not all malware is a virus. That's very important distinction to keep in mind.

Just what I was going to say.

 

[danscmc]

staog...for starters

 

[MachDelta]

Linux viruses.

 

[Crashdamage]

None of those viruses listed are loose in the wild. Actually, none are any threat whatsoever. Some are only 'proof of concept' exercises, written just to show they can. And none could ever be a threat to Linux systems properly administered, ie not run as root.

Moving on, nothing to see here...

 

[bobbythegeek]

 

[Supatramp]

So running an anti-virus app on an Android machine is a waste of time?

 

[jhawkkw]

^^ As long as you're careful about which apps you install and give root access to, you should be in no danger. Anti-Virus apps generally are just a battery waster unless you're reckless with what you install.