Hello, I'm quite new to linux and the last week i m reading about linux security and that kind of stuff.
I have some questions about my system's future as well as linux system future
1.lets say that the list linux viruses gets more and more big.How can I secure myself from viruses in linux?Can I make auser with access only on the internet?
2.Do ineed an anti-virus?
3.how viruses get in to linux systems?I read that new viruses appeared to run in both windows and linux!
Are linux the next generation system afteralls or it will just become a "little" insecure system so that users will eventually go to windows.Because viruses and security were a big deal to start with linux and love it.
I got really frustrated with these matters....
Please all of maitres out there please clear up my mind.....

Thank you for reading this message

If you really want to get worried google rootkits!

Man yes I'm really worried...

You don't really need to be concerned about viruses in Linux, because there aren't really any out there. Linux has been running for many, many years with only a few major worm outbreaks. The kernel itself is quite secure. Worms generally have spread through services like sendmail, bind, and others. If you're vigilant about keeping up with security updates, then you shouldn't have any trouble. But...

1) If you're concerned about this, I suggest being careful about what you run as a priveleged user and logging in as an unpriveleged user for all of your normal work. Use sudo or su to change to do work requiring root access.
2) I'd say you don't, but if you remain unconvinced, check out ClamAV.
3) No virus can actually run on both Windows and Linux because they don't share an executable format. However, a worm could potentially spread through a service running on both Linux and Windows - although this is unlikely.

thank for the reply.So security updates solve all security problems if you have set up a tight system?I talk about rootkits etc.I use it for home use and maybe in future I host a dynamic web page.What should I need?

No it does not.

Paranoia is good, defense in depth is even better

Sticky on security
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ad.php?t=45261

It will all depend on the time you have, the degree of risk you can take,
the cost / benefit analysis.

Do backups, have a good firewall, tighten security, do update,
remove unecessary services, audit your system, keep an eye on your logs,
layer the security, etc.

Among good stuffs: snort, nessus, tripwire, clamav, SELinux etc.
But you do not want an overkill of work...

Well, read the exact news about that, it was just one proof of concept,
and the severity of which is debatable

So this was the serious answer.

The less serious answer is yes linux is pretty secure by design,
some distro give or implement more or less security by default,
and you can be as paranoid as you want.