"Aren't a lot of viruses written on linux?"
- No.
Viruses can be written on any operating system. And for the virus to run on Windows, you need a compiler designed for it, which is much easier to come by on Windows than on Linux.
Regardless of what type of program, I would not entirely develop it and test it on Linux and then hope it will work on Windows by the magic of the Invisible Pink Unicorn. That's dumb. If the program is low level (as I suspect most viruses are), it's suicidal.
Of course, I'm not saying it's impossible to write a virus on Linux. Just it's at the very least as easy to write one on Windows if not downright easier.
- No.
Viruses can be written on any operating system. And for the virus to run on Windows, you need a compiler designed for it, which is much easier to come by on Windows than on Linux.
Regardless of what type of program, I would not entirely develop it and test it on Linux and then hope it will work on Windows by the magic of the Invisible Pink Unicorn. That's dumb. If the program is low level (as I suspect most viruses are), it's suicidal.
Of course, I'm not saying it's impossible to write a virus on Linux. Just it's at the very least as easy to write one on Windows if not downright easier.
Oh, and linux does not equal open source.