can some one tell me, y rnt ther no viruses in linux?

Hi,

Here are a few reasons why there aren't many viruses for linux:

1 For most viruses to work on Linux they need root permissions
2 Linux is open source and is being scrutinised all of the time by computer folk all over the world, any vulnerabilities can be recognised and patches can be provided pretty quickly.

3 Microsoft Windows is by far the most common OS and more people know how to program for Windows.

4 MS applications tend to have too many features and not enough security, for instance look at Excel,Word,Outlook, all these programs provide user access to the systems services.


Hope this starts to answer your question


Andy H

let me first thank you for helpin me out,

2ndly, can u tell me n e site that discusses security issues of linux,

reply asap, id be really obliged

thanx once agn

Hi alz,



A good site for linux security issues is:

http://netsecurity.about.com/cs/linuxsecurity/



I'd also like to recommend a really great book titled "Hacking Linux Exposed", it goes over the majority of linux/*nix security issues and recommends various ways to secure a *nix boxes.



You can find out about the book at the following url:



http://www.hackinglinuxexposed.com/about/





I hope this answer your question.





Andy H )

Lemme add some links as well...

AUSCERT UNIX Computer Security Checklist: www.cert.org/tech_tips/AUSCERT_checklist1.1
Steps for Recovering from a UNIX or NT System Compromise: www.cert.org/tech_tips/root_compromise.html and the rest of http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/
The CIT Computer Security Handbook: www.cit.nih.gov/security/handbook.html
Aging stuff from Phrack, good to read back to be sure, like "Unix System Security Issues": www.fc.net/phrack/files/p18/p18-7.html
SEI stuff: www.sei.cmu.edu/publications/lists.html handling IDS
Intrusion Detection and Network Auditing on the Internet: www.infosyssec.net/infosyssec/intdet1.htm
Top it off with some reading material on security:
Security tips: www.cert.org/tech_tips/ and www.cert.org/security-improvement/, http://www.securityportal.com/resear...xsecurity.html
Top ten vulnerabilities: www.sans.org/topten.htm and http://www.cert.org/present/cert-ove...ends/index.htm
Firewalling: www.infosyssec.net/infosyssec/firew1.htm, www.linux-firewall-tools.com/linux/
Securing Xwindows: http://www.uwsg.indiana.edu/usail/ex...d/xsecure.html

Basic Linux references:
http://www.sans.org/infosecFAQ/linux/linux_list.htm
the LASG or Linux Administrators Security Guide (linuxdoc.org)
Securing Optimizing Linux RH Edition(1)
*Linuxsecurity.com have a Quickreference pdf card.
Post-Installation Security Procedures (Linuxjournal)
The Linux-PAM System Administrators' Guide
A Short Course on Systems Administration and Security Under Unix(1)