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Old 03-08-2006, 10:42 PM   #1
sailu_mvn
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Question why linux is virus free


I would Like to know the opinions of the Linux Users in the Context Of Virus Protection in Linux.
How Linux is Virus Free.....
What amkes it so?
 
Old 03-08-2006, 11:09 PM   #2
TruongAn
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almost all hacker don't care about write virus for linux since linux is not as popular as windows, their virus cannot widely spread .

However, if you care about virus, try clamav or googling for your favorite linux-anti-virus software

Last edited by TruongAn; 03-08-2006 at 11:39 PM.
 
Old 03-08-2006, 11:29 PM   #3
grym
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Linux is a fast moving target. Also it's not like windows where everything is hidden. When an exploit of some kind shows up people are immediately figuring out ways to close the hole not trying (like MS) to say the hole doesn't exist.

The Linux community at least in my experience puts a much higher value on creation than destruction. Helping each other is part of the whole deal.
Just look at this forum all these people taking their time out to help each other. We are a bunch of individuals who together are doing something great.
 
Old 03-08-2006, 11:46 PM   #4
crouse
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http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/188

An older article, but pretty explanitory.
 
Old 03-09-2006, 12:12 AM   #5
foo_bar_foo
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crouse
http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/188

An older article, but pretty explanitory.
yea that article points out a huge thing.
the dangers inherent in any monoculture !
monoculture in agriculture invites disease and pest imbalances.
genetic engineered monoculture even spreads the damage beyond the monoculture system and begins to effect and destroy the surrounding healthy landscape.
lack of diversity of use in a downtown economic environment causes failed buisnesses and invites vagrants and crime.

microsoft as a concept is akin to the "new garden city" concept in city planning.
they move the diversity say of a poor but fully functional happy and colorfull safe urban neighborhood into the "new garden building project" surrounding a "park" that makes all the planners go so gaga (depicted so clearly by the park sceen on the front of windows. (a window to a "new garden park").
where would you like to go today ?
sudenly there is no economic activity and the lovely "park" is full of dangerous crack dealers and everyone is afraid to go out of their house..
 
Old 03-09-2006, 01:17 AM   #6
arunvk
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i wont say that linux is virus free. there can never be a software which will not have vulnerabilities that can be exploited and linux is no different.

linux definitely has fewer virsus when compared to windows. this is becoz linux is open source and hence any vulnerability is immediately fixed and the fixing is not done by a company. instead, its done by communities. so a single organisation is not responsible for fixing them unlike windows where u depend only on microsoft.

also, linux comes in many flavours. this discourages the virus coders as they have to write a code for each distro becoz each distro has different configurations and file organising structure.

the only way to exploit linux is to somehow get access as root which is something thats not easily possible.

the final point, linux is still not in the mainstream among computer users. so why write a virus which will affect only a few computers. anyone will prefer to target windows which is more dominant and a lot more easier to exploit.
 
Old 03-09-2006, 01:48 AM   #7
sailu_mvn
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is linux virus free because of the fle system structure.
I have a doubt.
I have studied that there are some loop holes in the file system structure. Like opt and var.....

what exactly u mean by virus freee
 
Old 03-14-2006, 08:30 PM   #8
win32sux
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perhaps linux is virus/worm free right now, but it's not immune or anything like that... don't worry, we'll get hit hard sooner or later, it's just a matter of time... running happily will be the servers of admins who took precautions beforehand... joining botnets will be the servers of admins who thought linux was untouchable...

Quote:
Originally Posted by arunvk
the only way to exploit linux is to somehow get access as root
that might be correct as far as the underlying OS itself is concerned, but it should also be mentioned that you don't need to be root to delete all of someone's documents, or to send a million SPAMs per hour from their box, etc...
 
Old 03-14-2006, 10:17 PM   #9
KimVette
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Search for "linux virus" and you'll find many threads discussing why Unix systems in general are virus-resistant.
 
  


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