Will Ubuntu End Up Like Windows?

[alsamman]

Out of curiosity I am wondering if you guys think that if Ubuntu were to increase dramatically in the number of users, maybe it will have many viruses just like Windows has (and always had)? I mean, many Ubuntu users like to tell people that the OS has just a handful of viruses and many of them are outdated, but then again, Linux is only 1% of the entire market. Lets say that number goes to 50%, is it doomed to having a ton of viruses, spyware, etc. like Windows?

[smartboyathome]

Not likely, since Linux's security virtually eliminates the threat. Trojans and malware which depends on social engineering, on the other hand, may emerge and unsuspecting users could install it.

EDIT: Also, isn't there a thread in recurring discussions on this same topic?

[RedNikon]

You have to ask yourself... If several hundred paid programers, can only get out updates ever month or so for viruses or bugs after they were found and exploited. Or if the community themselves finding and patching problems found in code before or shortly afer an exploit has been found. Which would you like to have working on or patching your system? I think the answer is one in the same.

[aysiu]

As smartboyathome said, anything that relies on social engineering can flourish on any operating system if the users are not educated on how to avoid such malware. If you can trick a Ubuntu user into downloading and double-clicking a malicious .deb file, then you can install malware on that user's system.

[conphara]

In that case, if a *.deb file should contain malicious code; where would you get it from?
Apps that are made for the Windows platform is spread ALL over the net. Deb files are mainly found in the Ubuntu or Debian repositories. Other places would be sourceforge or the popular getdeb.net. Gnomefiles.com mostly contain source packages.
If a virus or malware was put into a deb file, couldn't one just scan the file before installing (there are a number of virus scanners made for Linux anyway)? Another option, for the future, could be an integrated virus/malware scanner in Synaptics, so when you doubleclick the deb file, you've just downloaded, it scans for dependencies AND virus and etc before installing. That way, since there aren't that many places to get Ubuntu deb files from, it would be SO easy to identify crackers.

Any comments?

[stooshbunutu]

Firstly in response to the title: I DAMN WELL HOPE NOT!

and i dout anything could get that bad. Ubuntu and windows opperate on different principles Service and profit

those two factors will never collide and thankfully never will ubuntu and windows