No Viruses in Linux????

[suj_engico]

Nowadays we are hearing about lots of viruses, Worms, Trojans etc. affecting the Windows OS.
But never heard of any such thing happening with Linux???
WHY??????
:roll: :roll: :roll:

[parthbarot]

i thnk so i heard abt some linux virus or like that thing...but not remembering it....may be someone find it.....

[BONZI]

Virus will have tough time inside linux because it is open source and and anyone can modify it. secondly there arent as many security holes in linux when compared to windows. thirdly there arent many 'fools' who use linux. So they know about security threats. Fourthly, windows does everything for you it even installs virus and trojans for you. There is nothing hidden in linux. So writing virus is much more easier when compared to Linux. And the most important point there are'nt many linux users.

But still there are some virus. but comparitively it much, much safer

[rajkumar_personal]

It is one hell of an OS !!!

If you compare Linux with Windows with respect to virus attacks you might get a ratio around :
1 : 999999999999999999999

That is a wild calc but it depicts one fact !!!!!!!!!!

Linux is for the guys that want a saef OS without Viruses. But it is definitely tough to get used to it.

But once u do, m8, u will feel the power in ur hands (in case u r a programmer).

[linuxg33k]

The reason is that, for any program or a command, to gain true access the
system under linux(unix in general), would require root privelidges. Any
program/command/whatever without superuser privelidges cannot cause any
damage to a Linux box. And suppose even if there was a virus which ran
without superuser priv. what damage will it be able to cause at the most?
Damage the files owened by the user who executed the file containing the
virus. It wont be able to spread itself. Where as if
the file gets executed by the root user, than yeah, it will be able to
cause havoc.

Trojans are the only things which are common under Linux(again unix in
general) systems. Not sure about worms though(the only one I am aware of
was the Internet worm, which did cause alot of damage).


4 more info check the following link :

http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/188

Hope this answers ur question.

[eminemence]

Well one of the reasons is that Linux is not that prevalent among
Desktop users who are more comfortable with more easy-to-use
Windows and are generally more easier targets for viruses etc....
Bye.
--eminemence.

[pradeep_chauhan]

there are various antivirus that can be installed in case you want to be doubly sure. I use clamav just in case. But genrelly there are no virus for linux

[blacklight]

virus writers are generally people who want fame and cause maximum damage.since a majority of users run windows AND since windows have a lot of vulnerabilities(security holes),they prefer windows.
but there are linux viruses also.

[babumuchhala]

Well two reasons:
1. Linux an open source OS so firms modify them to suit their needs. So not all same. This makes the virus writers job tougher to find holes that can create a havoc all over the world

2. Linux is still very small compared to Windows. Linux users are more aware and better equiped with safety of their comp.

Maybe the Scenario would have been completely different if Linux were in Windows place and Windows in linuxes

[Choto Cheeta]

well AVS firms like www.grisoft.com already has lounched AVS for linux..... so if a OS needs a AVS then there is virus....

[babumuchhala]

Originally Posted by saurav_cheeta

well AVS firms like www.grisoft.com already has lounched AVS for linux..... so if a OS needs a AVS then there is virus....

Yes there are linux viruses, no doubt but no way in comaprison to wat windows users get

[h4xbox]

U can use clam-av iffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff u have a virus in linux ... it can be found with pcq 2004 distro

[linuxg33k]

One reason why there are virus scanners for linux is that , usually linux is used as a server (web server, mail server, proxy servers, etc ). So the virus scanner scans all the mails on the server b4 other clients (which can be win$ machines ) download the mails to their machies . Thus eliminating the need of a virus scanner on the client machine.

[babumuchhala]

Originally Posted by linuxg33k

dude syop adding these to ur posts in place of sigs. This is defing all the logic of those sig hacks mods have put into place.

[suj_engico]

Well Guys!!
I realised that there are Linux viruses. But the main question is that why is it less prone to viruses as compared to Windows??
Is the main ans. related to the Linux's security features. If yes than what are those??
I read that many of u have given the views that may be virus developers don't know much abt. Linux????????
com'on guys!!! People who can find security vulnerabilities in a pre-launched version of microsoft OS(Longhorn) although(it has been released now), don't u think would be intrested in kowing abt. an OS which presently drives 20%(appx.) of the major firms in this world?????????????

[tuxfan]

It is a myth that there are no viruses in Linux. There are a few known ones. But the way the file system and file permissions are designed in Linux, viruses can't create havocs. They just can't damage it too much.

One needs to do only one thing. Just don't login as root unless and until you need some serious administration rights.

[Choto Cheeta]

Originally Posted by babumuchhala

dude syop adding these to ur posts in place of sigs. This is defing all the logic of those sig hacks mods have put into place.

ya.... one other thing is this images realy slow us down (who r in dial-up)..

[GNUrag]

Originally Posted by linuxg33k

The reason is that, for any program or a command, to gain true access the
system under linux(unix in general), would require root privelidges. Any
program/command/whatever without superuser privelidges cannot cause any
damage to a Linux box. And suppose even if there was a virus which ran
without superuser priv. what damage will it be able to cause at the most?
Damage the files owened by the user who executed the file containing the
virus. It wont be able to spread itself. Where as if
the file gets executed by the root user, than yeah, it will be able to
cause havoc.

Trojans are the only things which are common under Linux(again unix in
general) systems. Not sure about worms though(the only one I am aware of
was the Internet worm, which did cause alot of damage).

Good work.
This is the most precise answer to the question.
I must tell you all,
There are no viruses for Linux
sure, making worms are possible but that's a different story.

The reason lies with the Windows filesystem. Which is very vulnerable and allows execute permission to any and all kind of files. It does not follow the POSIX filesystem design and this leads to all the problems.

Originally Posted by h4xbox

U can use clam-av iffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff u have a virus in linux ... it can be found with pcq 2004 distro

Do you even know why clamav is used? It is used to protect the windows babies which are in the same network which this linux box is serving as mail server.

[ujjwal]

I was wondering about one thing ... we know about tools like explore2fs and rfstool which allow us to access linux partitions from other OS's ... so what if the virus shipped with such a tool (and did not need to rely on the standard tools like cp, rm, mv etc to perform file operations) could it be possible for it to erase/modify any data?