Windows vs Linux viruses

[Tinklemagoo]

Linux does not seem to suffer from the same volume of viruses/trojans and
other nasties currently swamping windows users.

Is it as easy to write viruses for Linux as it would appear for Windows?

Are virus writers ignoring Linux because tiny user base but if Linux user
base grows they will soon start unleashing viruses on Linux ?

 

[Dan Sawyer]

MS systems are particulary prone to viruses because of the MS design in
handling attachments. Linux performs handling of attachments in an entirly
different manner with the result that it is more difficult to create and
effective attachment virus or worm.

Linux on the other hand seems vunerable to security attacks called "root
kits". It is now pretty good; however it requires complex setup to prevent
incursions.

I am not sure I would call SWEN a virus. It is acturally a software upgrade
the user has to install. This requires the user to take an act. It is common
in the Linux community to upgrade; however most Linux admins would link to
the source and proactivly download the upgrade. It would be very uncommon
for a Linux admin to load an unsolicited upgrade from an e-mail.

Dan

 

[luc wastiaux]

Linux does not seem to suffer from the same volume of viruses/trojans and
other nasties currently swamping windows users.

Is it as easy to write viruses for Linux as it would appear for Windows?

Are virus writers ignoring Linux because tiny user base but if Linux user
base grows they will soon start unleashing viruses on Linux ?

Viruses work by infecting programs on the host computer: that way, when
you switch off you computer , and switch it back on, the virus becomes
active again when you run an infected executable (like explorer.exe).

Now the virus is allowed to infect explorer.exe because it has
write-access to the file. that's because by default, everyone is an
administrator on windows xp.

linux users are more security conscious and do all their work as a regular
user instead of root, even if they were to execute a virus, it would only
be active for their user account, and not for the whole system.

there's also the fact that internet explorer and outlook express are
bug-laden programs that have a lot of vulnerabilities viruses can exploit.

You're better protected against viruses in linux, and you will always be
as long as you know what you're doing.

 

[Gabriele Neukam]

On that special day, Tinklemagoo, ([email protected]) said...

Linux does not seem to suffer from the same volume of viruses/trojans and
other nasties currently swamping windows users.

Yes, as it is (as we do call it) a niche system.

Is it as easy to write viruses for Linux as it would appear for Windows?

It shouldn't be too difficult code wise. But the user restriction make
it necessary to find loopholes which give the worm higher privileges in
order to spread. Some linux worms have already been active in the wild,
especially the "ramen" which infected certain internet servers. But the
loophole was quickly fixed, and "ramen" died for lack of victims.

Are virus writers ignoring Linux because tiny user base but if Linux user
base grows they will soon start unleashing viruses on Linux ?

No one knows yet. The diversity of the flavours might create some
obstacles. But something like Lindows (where you seem to have to work as
root always?) might be the first substrate a consumer Linux virus might
be spreading on.

Just my 2 Eurocent


Gabriele Neukam

(e-mail address removed)

 

[kurt wismer]

MS systems are particulary prone to viruses because of the MS design in
handling attachments. Linux performs handling of attachments in an entirly
different manner with the result that it is more difficult to create and
effective attachment virus or worm.

ummm, linux doesn't handle attachments at all.. email clients handle
attachments... and it's entirely possible for someone to make an email
client for the linux platform that does incredibly stupid things, just
like outlook and outlook express...

Linux on the other hand seems vunerable to security attacks called "root
kits". It is now pretty good; however it requires complex setup to prevent
incursions.

I am not sure I would call SWEN a virus. It is acturally a software upgrade
the user has to install.

an upgrade? i think you are confused... it's a virus (or perhaps worm
depending on the definition du jour)...

This requires the user to take an act.

many viruses do...

 

[kurt wismer]

luc wastiaux wrote:
[snip]

linux users are more security conscious and do all their work as a regular
user instead of root,

? ummmm, no... *smart* linux users do that.. there are plenty of novice
users still doing day to day stuff while logged on as root...