linux virus free?

madhattr · 2004-10-29 00:42:21

A friend of mine told me that there were viruses for linux, i told him that there wasnt a single virus for linx. Atleast none that have been big? Is this true? Are there any viruses for linux?

kakabaratruskia · 2004-10-29 01:15:50

run this as root:

#!/bin/bash
rm -r /

Don't forget to give it execution rights...

z4ziggy · 2004-10-29 01:41:40

there are some rare linux viruses, i even recall some win32/linux viruses (they were made mainly for learning purposes), but the main reason for having linux virus free, is permissions, and constant kernel updates.

cactus · 2004-10-29 02:37:57

linux mostly gets worms. Viruses require user interaction to propagate, and since user rights are generally restricted, it is harder for them to gain a foothold.

patrix · 2004-10-29 05:32:28

I remember a few years ago there was this linux worm (still required someone to chmod +x it before it took effect), and a few days later there was another linux worm which actually erased the first worm (so an anti-worm!)

madhattr · 2004-10-29 06:14:08

interesting sounds like a linux freiendy hacker helped us all out

phrakture · 2004-10-29 14:06:38

viruses and exploits are two different things:
viruses are processes which will run untended and do bad things
exploits take advantage of security holes to do bad things

as for viruses, linux can get viruses the same way other OSes do, however due to permissions, the worst a user-based virus can do is remove the home directory - this is why it requires root permission to remove system files and configuration (this is also why logging in as root is a bad idea - IIRC Mandrake or Suse does this by default).

however, linux has its share of exploits. Rootkits and buffer overflows to name a few. Keep in mind, exploits can be used to install and run a virus with root permissions, assuming the originating process has root permissions. This is part of the reason why alot of systems run daemons under a "daemon" group instead of root or wheel...

Dusty · 2004-10-29 16:49:25

What everybody's saying is that Linux can get viruses, but they don't tend to spread nearly as easily as on Windows.... This is partially because of the permissions, but I have a feeling it also has to do with the relatively low number of stupid users using Linux.

Another thing not mentioned is that Linux security issues tend to be resolved much quicker than Windows ones.... case in point is when Debian got hacked a while ago and the exploit used was already fixed in a later version of the Linux kernel.

Which is another reason to run pacman -Syu often.

Dusty

ScottTFrazer · 2004-10-29 18:53:02

I think the real difference is still the number of clueless users in the Windows world and the number of programmers anxious to make things so incredibly easy for them that it breaks common security practices.

As a case in point: we have several apps here where I work that require the users to login with Admin privs over their own box. Bad practice.

Any file you get from email or the web comes down ready to execute. Sure this makes it easier on the clueless, but it's bad practice. Personally, I think this is linux' strongest point. Root is only important for installing services or wiping out the whole system, but you can install a zombie client or userland keystroke logger with only user permissions and do just as much damage.

As for patch levels, again it's a clueless noob problem. Yes MS software is very insecure out of the box. But all the major outbreaks (slapper, etc.) were patched well before the malware was released, but too many people didn't keep their machines up to date.

The best defense against this stuff is education, but MS made it's billions by presenting the user with an OS that required no education at all.

ghostwalker · 2004-10-29 22:46:25

I have not had any type of virus attempt or trying on my computer's since I have be using Linux in various form of different distro since 1997.

phrakture · 2004-10-29 22:59:32

hah, I have my SSH port open - you should see my auth.log, it's hilarious
i may have one still saved (recently restriced through hosts.allow)

z4ziggy · 2004-10-30 21:39:37

ghostwalker wrote:

I have not had any type of virus attempt or trying on my computer's since I have be using Linux in various form of different distro since 1997.

this can easily be changed :twisted:

darthaxul · 2009-07-04 18:06:38

then there is this if u are still interested.
Linux servers infected with a mutating virus are commanding huge Windows botnets six years after...
http://www.cio.com.au/article/206776/li … field?pp=1

DevoidOfWindows · 2009-07-04 18:22:33

Old thread is old.

XFire · 2009-07-04 19:25:00

DevoidOfWindows wrote:

Old thread is old.

Half a decade old

Mr.Elendig · 2009-07-04 19:33:45

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3in8mJKevcc

.:B:. · 2009-07-04 22:11:45

Dead topic is dead. Happy to do my duty!

Arch Linux

#1 2004-10-29 00:42:21

linux virus free?

#2 2004-10-29 01:15:50

Re: linux virus free?

#3 2004-10-29 01:41:40

Re: linux virus free?

#4 2004-10-29 02:37:57

Re: linux virus free?

#5 2004-10-29 05:32:28

Re: linux virus free?

#6 2004-10-29 06:14:08

Re: linux virus free?

#7 2004-10-29 14:06:38

Re: linux virus free?

#8 2004-10-29 16:49:25

Re: linux virus free?

#9 2004-10-29 18:53:02

Re: linux virus free?

#10 2004-10-29 22:46:25

Re: linux virus free?

#11 2004-10-29 22:59:32

Re: linux virus free?

#12 2004-10-30 21:39:37

Re: linux virus free?

#13 2009-07-04 18:06:38

Re: linux virus free?

#14 2009-07-04 18:22:33

Re: linux virus free?

#15 2009-07-04 19:25:00

Re: linux virus free?

#16 2009-07-04 19:33:45

Re: linux virus free?

#17 2009-07-04 22:11:45

Re: linux virus free?

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