Linux Viruses?
October 22nd, 2008I don’t run any anti-virus software on my laptop, for one I run Linux but the main reason is that I’m careful what I do. I open all my emails in plain text, don’t run file sharing software and so on. Of course it’s currently true that in-the-wild viruses on Linux are almost unheard.
It’s long been argued by opponents of Linux that the lack of Linux viruses is only because virus writers target the largest user base, meaning Windows, not because Linux in inherently more secure. But I wonder with mobile phones becoming more powerful, Linux being relatively bigger in the mobile phone space and the reports that in future virus writers will target phones if this will be put to the test.
Google recently released the source code for their Linux based Android platform and they obviously hope that by creating an open framework they will appeal to many manufacturers and grab a slice of the market. If virus writers start to target Android then maybe the argument regarding Linux security can be laid to rest one way or the other.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:25 am
Viruswriters will attack every system that appeals to them. It is true that there are way less viruses for Unix, but that doesn’t make Unix safe. I found this article that explains why it isn’t: http://int13h.byethost7.com/?q=content/unix-elf-parasites-and-viruses
November 20th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Thanks for the link, I’II have deeper read later as it looks an interesting article.