Why is Linux secure?

[bharat_r]

"Linux is so secure.
There is no virus/malware attack."

Why is this so? Is it coz people dont care to write viruses for linux?
Or is it impossible to write a virus for linux?
Or does it got something to do with the unix like permissions(I dont know anything abt the file permissions of unix)

Always wanted to know abt this. Enlighten me :)

[mehulved]

What I heard on IRC
*nix has always been designed from ground up not to execute code.
Windows has been designed ground up to execute code.

You cannot run anything on *nix till you give it permission to run explicitly.
That's the biggest part. Besides there's lots of points to debate on. You can look at the past topics for the answer. It doesn't make sense to bring up that old beat up topic again and again.

[praka123]

@bahrth:
Note to new Linux users: No antivirus needed (http://www.linux.com/feature/60208)

and to probe even more:
http://linuxmafia.com/~rick/faq/index.php?page=virus

[shady_inc]

Being open source, Even if some idle mind does think of making virus for Linux, It won't take long for developers to come up with a solution to fix it.So, yes I do agree that nobody bothers writing viruses for Linux.Why bother wasting weeks in making virus when a virus released in morning will have developers fix it by noon.

[The Unknown]

There is ONLY ONE existing virus for Linux and that is Bliss (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bliss_(virus))

The funniest thing about this virus is that it has an option to disinfect the files and it does as promised (according to wikipedia).

wikipedia says that it was probably designed to show that Linux can be affected by viruses....blah.....blah.....blah

LINUX CANNOT BE AFFECTED BY VIRUSES. :) :) :)

[MetalheadGautham]

^^bliss is history
it exploited a kernel bug, which was fixed when most of us were lil kids.

[The Unknown]

^^bliss is history
it exploited a kernel bug, which was fixed when most of us were lil kids.
u mean to say it did not infect the system ??? :confused:

It exploited a kernel bug ??

[mehulved]

u mean to say it did not infect the system ??? :confused:

It exploited a kernel bug ?? Do you know what is a virus?

[The Unknown]

Do you know what is a virus?
I knew that. now got from wikipedia -


In addition, many viruses are bug (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bug)-ridden, and these bugs may lead to system crashes and data loss (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_loss).


No offense :)

[praka123]

well,there was a kernel local exploit with vmsplice option.only 2.6.24+ kernels where able to fix that! :?
http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/linux-kernel-vmsplice-bug-and-fix.html

well,I tried myself that exploit,and it IS able to gain root access easily :(
still,this is a local exploit.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=693415

[The Unknown]

well,there was a kernel local exploit with vmsplice option.only 2.6.24+ kernels where able to fix that! :?
http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/linux-kernel-vmsplice-bug-and-fix.html

well,I tried myself that exploit,and it IS able to gain root access easily :(
still,this is a local exploit.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=693415
may be it local. it is still dangerous. if you run a program to damage something in the system then its pretty easy to do with root account.