The freer and more secure Linux operating system has reached another milestone in the computer market and now has more than 3 per cent of the market share for mainstream computers, according to data from online statistics firm Statcounter.
Windows still has the largest market share but has shrunk to 68.15 per cent, while MacOS has 21.38 per cent. The Google-developed Chrome OS, based on Linux, has a share of 4.15 per cent, bringing the total share of Linux-based systems to 7.23 per cent.
While the share may seem small, it shows a continued steady direction with the highest ever listing for the operating system in the personal computer market. Beyond this, Linux dominates in markets such as servers, supercomputers and embedded systems, where its open source, security and versatility stand out.
The continued growth of Linux may gain even more momentum in the future as the launch of products such as Steam Deck (running the Linux operating system) is expected to continue to increase the acceptance of Linux among gamers and in turn raise awareness of its increasing suitability for gaming.
Alongside the increase in market share, experts emphasise Linux's clear advantages in terms of customisation, privacy and security, compared to competitors such as Windows and Mac.
Ubuntu, a popular Linux distribution, is often touted as an alternative that offers greater privacy and security, not least because it is open source. It also avoids the need to connect to clouds and privacy-intrusive services like Google and Microsoft accounts and reduces surveillance of you and your computer.
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