LinuxQuestions.org
Share your knowledge at the LQ Wiki.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Security
User Name
Password
Linux - Security This forum is for all security related questions.
Questions, tips, system compromises, firewalls, etc. are all included here.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 08-24-2003, 01:25 PM   #1
rvijay
Member
 
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Quebec, Canada
Distribution: Debian HD install of Knoppix 5.0.1
Posts: 921
Blog Entries: 24

Rep: Reputation: 64
Linux Virus/Distro Question


Let us assume that there is a Linux Virus. Can it target any Linux Distro ? Or will it be limited to one distro ? Thanks.

Vijay
 
Old 08-24-2003, 01:27 PM   #2
salparadise
Senior Member
 
Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Birmingham UK
Distribution: Various
Posts: 1,736

Rep: Reputation: 146Reputation: 146
more or less any standard linux distro is the answer to that question
 
Old 08-24-2003, 01:29 PM   #3
trickykid
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Jan 2001
Posts: 24,149

Rep: Reputation: 269Reputation: 269Reputation: 269
I'm sure they could have one target a particular distro as well, depending on how whoever programmed it as certain distros are built differently.
But I'm sure anyone who creates a virus for Linux is going to try and make it so it attacks any standard distro.
 
Old 08-24-2003, 01:38 PM   #4
rvijay
Member
 
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Quebec, Canada
Distribution: Debian HD install of Knoppix 5.0.1
Posts: 921

Original Poster
Blog Entries: 24

Rep: Reputation: 64
Wow if that happens and becomes common then, perhaps users may switch over to BSD. Or perhaps who knows another brand new OS may emerge ?

Vijay
 
Old 08-24-2003, 02:31 PM   #5
kev82
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2003
Location: Lancaster, England
Distribution: Debian Etch, OS X 10.4
Posts: 1,263

Rep: Reputation: 51
it wont happen as long as people have the sense to use there root accounts carfully and they keep all there daemons patched up to date. executables only have the capabilities of the user that executed them so running a program as a normal user cant damage the system, it can only damage that persons home directory. bsd is pretty much the same as linux for executable permissions so anything that can target linux could target bsd or any of the other unices.

now if you were to ask how long before we have distros that use pam to completely remove authentication, and the root user gets logged in automatically i would unfortunately have to say very soon, this is where i see distros like mandrake going. its the age old battle of user friendliness vs security and unfortunately i think the former will win. when that happens we'll have more viruses than words in the dictionary.
 
Old 08-24-2003, 02:34 PM   #6
MasterC
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Salt Lake City, UT - USA
Distribution: Gentoo ; LFS ; Kubuntu ; CentOS ; Raspbian
Posts: 12,613

Rep: Reputation: 69
Moving to Linux - Security

Cool
 
Old 08-24-2003, 02:38 PM   #7
rvijay
Member
 
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Quebec, Canada
Distribution: Debian HD install of Knoppix 5.0.1
Posts: 921

Original Poster
Blog Entries: 24

Rep: Reputation: 64
Quote:
Originally posted by kev82
it wont happen as long as people have the sense to use there root accounts carfully and they keep all there daemons patched up to date. executables only have the capabilities of the user that executed them so running a program as a normal user cant damage the system, it can only damage that persons home directory. bsd is pretty much the same as linux for executable permissions so anything that can target linux could target bsd or any of the other unices.

now if you were to ask how long before we have distros that use pam to completely remove authentication, and the root user gets logged in automatically i would unfortunately have to say very soon, this is where i see distros like mandrake going. its the age old battle of user friendliness vs security and unfortunately i think the former will win. when that happens we'll have more viruses than words in the dictionary.
This is very good to know. In that case, perhaps those who wish to stay safe can continue to use the older versions of Linux. I am sure that they would all be available somewhere on the net for download evven then.

Vijay
 
Old 08-24-2003, 04:31 PM   #8
Blindsight
Member
 
Registered: Mar 2003
Distribution: Slackware
Posts: 234

Rep: Reputation: 30
one word: ramen ;)
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Which distro of UNIX/LINUX is the most secure and cracker,virus free ?? pleasehelpme Linux - Newbie 3 05-08-2005 11:25 AM
Linux distro question crash75uk Linux - Newbie 6 04-05-2005 06:47 AM
Linux vs Mac question (Virus vulnerability related) unixfreak Linux - Security 14 08-29-2004 06:05 AM
virus question on Linux ako Linux - Security 2 05-06-2004 09:30 PM
Linux Distro Question RecoilUK Linux - General 3 07-16-2001 02:52 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Security

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:44 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration