On Tue, 2007-08-07 at 11:30 +0200, Hans van der Merwe wrote: > On Tue, 2007-08-07 at 01:15 -0800, John Andersen wrote: > > On Tuesday 07 August 2007, Hans van der Merwe wrote: > > > If/When Linux makes it big-time on the desktop do you think it will also > > > be bogged down with virus attacks as MS is now. > > > > No. > > The reason windows is attacked is because its EASY, not JUST because its > > popular. Believing otherwise is swallowing Microsoft FUD hook line and > > sinker. > > > > > > > Why is it assumed that Linux is less prone to virus attacks? > > > > Because it is. With windows, simply sending you a file can infect > > you. With linux, sending you a file and having you click on it all > > day long STILL does not make it executable. > > > > > > > I know to > > > install stuff in the system, root is necessary, but installing and > > > running dangerous stuff in the user home directories is easy; you just > > > need a cunning app to fool the user in executing malicious code. > > > > Social engineering is always a risk, but with Linux you can even prevent > > against that to a far greater degree than with windows. Egress filtering > > does a lot. But the real protection is that users who are too dumb to > > realized WHY they are being asked to set something executable when all they > > thought they were doing was getting a eCard from a classmate or a bored girl > > are also too dumb to figure out how to set it executable. > > > > > > > (given, doing this in Win is easier, but not impossible in any flavour > > > Linux) > > > > I submit that for all practical purposes it is impossible. Or at the > > very least impractical. > > > > Evidence: We have been fighting windows viruses and worms tooth > > and nail for Over 10 Years. Wouldn't you thing that would have > > been time enough for some clever virus writer to try and take over > > that very LARGE segment of internet web servers that run on > > various 'nix machines, and which serve as firewalls to vast > > data warehouses? > > > Further advances in SE linux make it even less likely in the future. > > > > Bill would like you to believe its JUST because his OS is popular. > > > > Again, Im only talking about Desktop Linux, not servers - web users dont > have logons, email and web-browsing on arb webservers - so it remains > dumb user proof. > > But my main concern is that dumb users usually make up most of the > desktop market out there - and preaching to them that Linux will make > there virus problem go away is setting them up for a fall. > > Hans
Sorry, "their" virus problem and for replying to my own mail. And... desktop users install all kinds of insane apps - when desktop linux is popular - more apps will appear - increasing the risk of installing a malicious one. Hans E-Mail disclaimer: http://www.sunspace.co.za/emaildisclaimer.htm -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
