On May 21, 3:14 pm, Bill Oliver <[email protected]> wrote: > I think you need to be a bit more specific. Are you using your linux box to > download Windows software or relay emails read on Windows boxes? >
No, I have a separate machine for windows related activities. This is strictly a linux machine. > Clam-AV primarily scans emails and such for Windows malware on linux boxes > that act as relays. > > It should also be noted that the term "virus" has both a specific and general > meaning. In the specific meaning of self-replicating code that inserts > itself onto the disk, viruses are not really a significant problem in for a > linux user who doesn't do everything as root. The last time I looked, no > linux virus has been successful in the wild. That's obviously a good thing, but if the virus protection is free, then that's a good reason to use it ;) > > In the more general term as a synonym for any kind of malware, linux is quite > liable for intrusion. If you want to "harden" your linux box, a simple > anti-virus software really won't do the trick (just as it really doesn't do > the trick in Windows). > > Instead of relying on one magical piece of software, you will need to develop > a policy of good hygeine and perform due diligence. > > In linux, there are a few things that you just have to watch for: > > 1) People will log on when you don't want them to. You need to install a > personal firewall and some intrusion detection. Further you need to "harden" > your machine and use real passwords -- and change your passwords periodically. > > 2) People will change files on your computer when you aren't watching. You > need to install a tripwire. > > 3) People will use your computer to connect to places when you aren't > watching -- you need to install some communication surveillance. > > 3) People will install rootkits that tripwires and intrusion detection kits > won't see. You need to install a root kit detector (and you need to > configure it as soon as you do a clean installation). > Fortunately, no one else is using this computer other than myself. > 4) You need to monitor your log files religiously. > > 5) Make lots of backups that will allow you to roll back to a state prior to > an intrusion. > > Of course, one of the best things about linux is that it lends itself to > periodic cleansing. Every few months a new exciting distro or upgrade comes > along. Many people just upgrade, but I always wipe the disk and do a clean > install. That way I know that even if I suffered an intrusion, at least four > times a year I'm squeaky clean. In contrast, linux is also so stable that > you often don't have to do that. I know one person who has been running the > same version of Mandriva linux for five years -- because, well, it just works. That could turn out to be a problem for me. When I upgraded from ubuntu 9.04 to 9.10 my wireless usb wifi thingy stopped working. I had to go back to 9.04. I've ordered version 11 from osdisc.com. I'll see what happens when it arrives in a week or so. > > billo > > > > > > > > On Sat, 21 May 2011, Dos-Man 64 wrote: > > I didnt need antivirus software before because my linux box wasn't > > connected to the internet. > > > I just bought one of those little usb wifi gadgets on ebay. The damn > > thing actually works, but I had to switch to ubuntu because dreamlinux > > didn't recognize it. > > > Should I download CLAM, or what? Is everyone here using antivirus > > software? > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Linux Users > > Group. > > To post a message, send email to [email protected] > > To unsubscribe, send email to [email protected] > > For more options, visit our group > > athttp://groups.google.com/group/linuxusersgroup > > Please remember to abide by our list rules > > (http://tinyurl.com/LUG-Rulesorhttp://cdn.fsdev.net/List-Rules.pdf) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Linux Users Group. To post a message, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit our group at http://groups.google.com/group/linuxusersgroup Please remember to abide by our list rules (http://tinyurl.com/LUG-Rules or http://cdn.fsdev.net/List-Rules.pdf)
