LinuxSA Mailing list archives

  From: Mark Newton <newton@atdot.dotat.org>
  To  : David Newall <davidn@rebel.net.au>
  Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 23:15:27 +0930 (CST)

Re: Viruses

David Newall wrote:

 > >> Does Linux get viruses?
 > > Nope.
 > 
 > Theoretically yes.  Just because nobody has bothered to write one
 > (yet, and only to our knowledge) in no way means that it can't or
 > won't happen in the future.  I contend that believing Linux to be
 > proof against viruses would be a huge boon to virus writers.
 > Complacency on the part of system administrators is a virus writer's
 > friend.

<shrug>  Whatever.  30 years of history to the contrary puts up a 
pretty strong case.  The compartmentalization provided by UNIX's
security model creates a pretty hostile environment for a virus.

[ worm stuff deleted ]

The modern day (and slightly, but *only* slightly, more innocent)
equivalent of the Worm would be mscan and friends, the automated tools
which try to break in using known security bugs -- Just like the worm
did.

Alan:  Have they broken in yet? :-)

   - mark

--------------------------------------------------------------------
I tried an internal modem,                    newton@atdot.dotat.org
     but it hurt when I walked.                          Mark Newton
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