Malware found in Gnome screensaver

adriv · 12-09-2009, 05:31 PM

Just read it on Slashdot.
A screensaver that was available on Gnome-Look.org contained a script that could be abused for Ddos attacks. The screensaver is removed, but I think this is a warning for all the people who believe that Linux is immune for malware, it isn't.
The guy who found it is a Ubuntu user and his thread about this discovery can be read here.

So take care and be careful.

DragonSlayer48DX · 12-09-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adriv

I think this is a warning for all the people who believe that Linux is immune for malware, it isn't.

So take care and be careful.

A very good warning, indeed.

While Linux does have a few extra layers of security built-in that are not found in Windows, no system is completely bullet-proof. And as Linux becomes more popular, you'll start seeing a lot more effort to break it.

FWIW- I do not login as root, I'm behind a router and firewall, I have my browser and e-mail client set for maximum security, and I do not download or install anything that's not in my repos.

Cheers

adriv · 12-10-2009, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragonslayer48dx

FWIW- I do not login as root, I'm behind a router and firewall, I have my browser and e-mail client set for maximum security, and I do not download or install anything that's not in my repos.

The scary thing is that it was available on Gnome-Look.org. That *should* be trustworthy, IMHO.

H_TeXMeX_H · 12-10-2009, 04:41 AM

Well, always look at scripts that you will run as root, ALWAYS.