Linux Spyware Removal Tools?

Micro420 · 01-21-2004, 09:44 PM

Just curious, but Windows XP users have some outside tools to help them remove spyware (cookies, files, etc...).

Do we linux users have something like this? surely if we surf the web, we have some spyware on our comps, right?

mikshaw · 01-21-2004, 10:09 PM

Spyware on linux? It's not likely

...at least not yet.

Micro420 · 01-21-2004, 10:35 PM

Really? so we can't get those cookies that track our web surfing habits? At work, I always run Ad-Aware by Lavasoft and every Windows computer ALWAYS has spyware on it. it's really annoying!

I'm sure us linux users have to have some kind of spyware on our comps, don't you think?

mjewell · 01-21-2004, 11:31 PM

I was wondering the same thing. I use Spybot, Zonelabs and Norton on my Windows machine. I like that Linux is less automated than Windows, but its also more responsibility to secure the machine.

I think its better to assume any machine on the net is vulnerable --- whether to cookies, spyware, viruses, whatever ---

detpenguin · 01-22-2004, 01:52 AM

we get cookies...but you can delete those through your browser controls...

Pwnz3r · 01-22-2004, 01:57 AM

Yeah, cookies are all that I know of that you can get in Linux. If people inside the Linux community started worrying about making viruses and adware for Linux then nothing would ever get done with Linux. The thing is, most people, such as me, that work with Linux see no reason to make viruses for it or adware because there are so many other things to do with it that are much better.

fancypiper · 01-22-2004, 02:26 AM

All Linux browsers I have seen, you have full control over cookies. Look through all the options or RTFM.

Open source code means the source code is available for inspection. Any spyware will be seen and screamed about in the Linux community.

For your next question, the answer is no.

# Linux and virus
The Virus Writing HOWTO reference: Should I get anti-virus software for my Linux box?

# Basic Linux security
Linux Questions Security references
Security Help Files
Linux Administrator's Security Guide
Security Focus
Linux Security
Firewalls and Security

acid_kewpie · 01-22-2004, 03:32 AM

there was an identical thread yesterday about spyware's existance.... there is none because there is (virtually) no one standing to make their money out of linux software, so there's no reason to spy.

moonloader · 01-22-2004, 05:14 AM

I don't know about spyware but,I do know about LKM trojans and DOS servers and annoying local progs.it is better if we say virus!I have met with a few annoying viruses in Linux,but it is not really like in windoze crap

do be careful what you install to your box!and always try to compile or make from the source!don't excute the ready come binary!and look at the program where it comes from?the most important there should be in every box a very useful prog called checkrootkit,install this program and run it regrualry in your box

Gnuru · 01-22-2004, 06:29 AM

In regards cookies, I know that you are not supposed to manage your mozilla cookies files except from inside mozilla. But I was tired of doing it manually so wrote a script to do it automatically.

I've posted it up here here, if anyone is interested.