Hello,

a friend of mine claims that his (Ubuntu) computer was infected by a virus destroying his system. I don't really belive that the virus was inside his computer (rather in front of it, to speak in pictures), and what Virus would destroy his System (there's better things to do with an infected computer, as everyone knows/should know).
Well, first of all, I know that it is possible to make viruses for Linux (What would prevent that?), but did it actually happen? I mean, if at all, then probably there would have been much more "precious" targets than Ubuntu or general Linux Desktop computers - mobiles with Android for example.
Can anyone confirm a (real) sighting of a Linux virus here? I mean, especially in the server business, it would be wrong to not worry, and be it only to protect vulnerable/unprotected Windows clients...

Thanks for the info.

Take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_malware and https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Linuxvirus and http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/locutus/...l-threat-39378.

But, yeah, the virus is usually sitting at the keyboard.

Hope this helps some.

1 members found this post helpful.

Thanks, will stick my nose into those documents. But yes, you sure need very much of bad luck to get a virus, but not much low-skill to blow up a Linux system - sad but true.

Malicious software is almost always opportunistic. It is legendary on Microsoft Windows systems because those machines, inexplicably, millions of those systems have been deployed with its (formidable!) security features not only "turned off" but very difficult to "turn on." (Damned if I know why.)

But what malicious software is not is "biological." A computer is a machine, period. Unlike you, it can't "catch" anything. It doesn't have "an immune system," nor does it need one. It also does not have a brain or any sense of reason.