The government is considering a plan to adopt the Linux computer operating system in the public sector to replace Microsoft's Windows 98.

According to industry sources, six government agencies decided in a meeting Thursday to draw up measures on Microsoft's recent decision to suspend issuing security patches for Windows 98 from July.

During the meeting, the Ministry of Information and Communication called on the other agencies to replace Windows 98 with the open-source software Linux.

The ministry has been promoting the adoption of Linux over Windows 98 for the past year.

Unlike Windows 98, Linux enables users and other developers to download and modify it for their own use.

The meeting was attended by the National Intelligence Service and the ministries of finance, planning and budget as well as Government Administration and Home Affairs.