Is Windows really less secure?

This weekend Microsoft issued yet another security patch, this one fixing a hole in IE that was left unpatched with previous patches. One of the questions that I haven't seen answered anywhere yet is whether this hole only applies if you actually run IE as your default browser, or if, because of Microsoft's pernicious embedding of IE components around the operating system, you are vulnerable no matter which browser you prefer.

One of the myths I keep hearing perpetuated is that the reason Windows has been the target for so many attacks is because it is the dominant desktop operating system, and therefore offers the biggest bang for the buck for those looking to wreak havoc.

While there is undoubtedly some truth to the fact that it's a big target, the fact of the mattter is that Microsoft has repeatedly made very stupid technology decisions that leave their software more vulnerable than other operating systems.

Here is a good article by Scott Granneman in the Register giving an understandable view of why Windows software is less secure than Linux and Mac OS X. Note that Microsoft could choose to fix these problems, as has been repeatedly pointed out to them.