A Little "Philosophical" Question

[richie42]

Well I am certain that I cannot get a virus while running my Linux system and that is because, well all of the ware and porno sites that have viruses are made for Windows... because everyone uses windows, Now people say that if 95% of the market was Linus, there would be Linux viruses then. Now, I disagree, even if 95% of the computer market became Linux, would it matter? Linux has such a dedicated team, with so many constant updates (I get like 3 a day), people would just adjust Linux so that it does not get viruses. And come on, Windows Service Packs come out once every 2 years. I think that the current "Linux team" (thank you all by the way) would make Linux more.. anti-virus.

*stands off of soap box*

[iaculallad]

It does not matter even if Ubuntu (*Linux*) get it's 95% of users. Remember that no one, no script, no command could get executed and changes your system configuration without invoking the sudo/gksudo/kdesu/kdesudo w/c requires authentication. The beauty of having / and user accounts and plenty of updates/patches to download.

[bhadotia]

Well I am certain that I cannot get a virus while running my Linux system and that is because, well all of the ware and porno sites that have viruses are made for Windows... because everyone uses windows, Now people say that if 95% of the market was Linus, there would be Linux viruses then. Now, I disagree, even if 95% of the computer market became Linux, would it matter? Linux has such a dedicated team, with so many constant updates (I get like 3 a day), people would just adjust Linux so that it does not get viruses. And come on, Windows Service Packs come out once every 2 years. I think that the current "Linux team" (thank you all by the way) would make Linux more.. anti-virus.

*stands off of soap box*
Well, I myself won't be very confident while saying that. there are still some viruses on linux althougth because of the secuirty in linux there are hardly any practical cases of sever damage by virus.
But I think that linux gets popular hackers will find ways to get through its security.
But till then we (linux users) should just enjoy life, pitying on win users who just get let go of their OS.:)

[aysiu]

Why try to create a virus in a virus-hostile environment when you can use social engineering to trick Linux users into installing malware?

[flamingswrd]

I have to disagree with your philosophy a bit. Just because it is virus free now is because most hackers are not interested. They KNOW how Windows works and if they wanted to assault any type of Linux they would find a way. Granted linux programmers know what they're doing (I hope), so they could contain the situation, but you can't account for people not knowing how to cruise the internet.

Again, Linux has no need to be attacked since there are not a whole lot of major infrastructures that could be taken advantage of. Viruses in a windows world are aimed at windows. If it were the other way around it would be just the same.

[-grubby]

Why try to create a virus in a virus-hostile environment when you can use social engineering to trick Linux users into installing malware?

yah, applications being installed get full root access, there goes your security model.

[smoker]

Why try to create a virus in a virus-hostile environment when you can use social engineering to trick Linux users into installing malware?

for information, do you have an example of this, aysiu?

personally, i am guarded about root privileges, and only download applications from the official repositories, so i am quite sure i've more chance of being hit by an asteroid, than getting a virus, whether linux has 5% or 95% market share (though i will eat my own arm off if it ever happens!),
:lolflag:

[fiddledd]

If Linux dominated the Desktop it would become the target of 1000s of crackers.

I wouldn't feel too complacent about being safe. If a Linux server can be hacked (which happens) then a Linux desktop can be hacked.

Of course to prove or disprove this, Linux would need to dominate the desktop market. So it's just a guess really.

[ronnielsen1]

Has nothing to do with market share people. Have you checked MACS market share lately. I do believe we will see more malware as more companies issue downloads that are closed source available for linux - viruses not anything like Windows. It's an entirely different system. Of all the servers out there that are not Windows, don't you think a hacker would make headlines by coming out with a viable virus. A virus in linux, if successful will remain on the one computer and not proprogate to everyone elses computer5

The reason that we have not seen a real Linux virus epidemic in the wild is simply that none of the existing Linux viruses can thrive in the hostile environment that Linux provides. The Linux viruses that exist today are nothing more than technical curiosities; the reality is that there is no viable Linux virus.

Of course this doesn't mean that there can never be a Linux virus epidemic.[2] It does mean, however, that a successful Linux virus must be well-crafted and innovative to succeed in the inhospitable Linux ecosystem.
http://librenix.com/?inode=21
Myth Windows only gets attacked most because it's such a big target, and if Linux use (or indeed OS X use) grew then so would the number of attacks.
Fact When it comes to web servers, the biggest target is Apache, the Internet's server of choice. Attacks on Apache are nevertheless far fewer in number, and cause less damage. And in some case Apache-related attacks have the most serious effect on Windows machines. Attacks are of course aimed at Windows because of the numbers of users, but its design makes it a much easier target, and much easier for an attack to wreak havoc. Windows' widespread (and often unnecessary) use of features such as RPC meanwhile adds vulnerabilities that really need not be there. Linux's design is not vulnerable in the same ways, and no matter how successful it eventually becomes it simply cannot experience attacks to similar levels, inflicting similar levels of damage, to Windows.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/22/linux_v_windows_security/
I'd recommend reading all of the last article

[Najmudin]

Here is an article in PDF about Linux vs Windows viruses if some one is interested.
linux vs windows viruses.pdf - 0.05MB (http://www.zshare.net/download/184630306a36fa9e/)

[cardinals_fan]

It comes down to user intelligence. Most Linux distros make it harder to get viruses by running as a limited user by default, but a little dedication can break any system.

[richie42]

It does not matter even if Ubuntu (*Linux*) get it's 95% of users. Remember that no one, no script, no command could get executed and changes your system configuration without invoking the sudo/gksudo/kdesu/kdesudo w/c requires authentication. The beauty of having / and user accounts and plenty of updates/patches to download.

I dunno. I simply forgot about that:

Sorry that I posted this in the wrong place. But if you have to go into Terminal to enter into acually do something.

Stil, what is the point of a virus any ways, Identity theft is where it's at for money..

[richie42]

It comes down to user intelligence. Most Linux distros make it harder to get viruses by running as a limited user by default, but a little dedication can break any system.

That's why my password is like 12 characters long, with capital letters, symbols, and numbers...

Isn't a distro where you buy a sandwich at?