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does linux need a virus scanner?

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Avarice
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26 Jan 2010, 5:56 am

When I used Linux, I didn't need any sort of Anti virus, I've never had anything worse than cookies on Windows either.



Fuzzy
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26 Jan 2010, 6:15 am

Sparx139 wrote:
I think we're forgetting one thing here, when we say that viruses won't affect linux, even if it gains popularity: Popularity means that there will be idiots using the thing.

idiot user + sudo + troll on linux support forum. You do the math.

fear the command that says "sudo rm -r / -nopreserveroot"


Big deal. You can trick someone into erasing their windows partition too.


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DentArthurDent
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27 Jan 2010, 1:44 am

Fuzzy wrote:
Sparx139 wrote:
I think we're forgetting one thing here, when we say that viruses won't affect linux, even if it gains popularity: Popularity means that there will be idiots using the thing.

idiot user + sudo + troll on linux support forum. You do the math.

fear the command that says "sudo rm -r / -nopreserveroot"


Big deal. You can trick someone into erasing their windows partition too.


It is surprising that when the rm-r command is used a warning does not come up asking for conformation.


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Orwell
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27 Jan 2010, 4:34 pm

DentArthurDent wrote:
Fuzzy wrote:
Sparx139 wrote:
I think we're forgetting one thing here, when we say that viruses won't affect linux, even if it gains popularity: Popularity means that there will be idiots using the thing.

idiot user + sudo + troll on linux support forum. You do the math.

fear the command that says "sudo rm -r / -nopreserveroot"


Big deal. You can trick someone into erasing their windows partition too.


It is surprising that when the rm-r command is used a warning does not come up asking for conformation.

For it to actually work, you have to type rm -rf /. The "-f" means "don't ask for confirmation, just do what I tell you."


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27 Jan 2010, 4:44 pm

Linux doesn't really need a virus scanner. How ever there is no excuse for not having an iptables/netfilter firewall.



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27 Jan 2010, 6:31 pm

No, and windows doesn't either.

Just keep OS up to date, exert common sense and backup often. Antiviruses only consume CPU while giving tons of false positives and negatives.

Just because you are Linux doesn't mean you should stop being wary of social engineers out there. One day there was a trojan in gnome-look.org . Don't give root priviledges to things that shouldn't have root priviledges, and gnome themes often should not need them...


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27 Jan 2010, 7:34 pm

Vexcalibur wrote:
Just because you are Linux doesn't mean you should stop being wary of social engineers out there. One day there was a trojan in gnome-look.org . Don't give root priviledges to things that shouldn't have root priviledges, and gnome themes often should not need them...

Also, don't install any programs from outside your distribution's standard repositories unless you're absolutely certain it's from a trustworthy source.


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Jono
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29 Jan 2010, 5:06 pm

Sparx139 wrote:
I think we're forgetting one thing here, when we say that viruses won't affect linux, even if it gains popularity: Popularity means that there will be idiots using the thing.

idiot user + sudo + troll on linux support forum. You do the math.

fear the command that says "sudo rm -r / -nopreserveroot"


I think most people new to Linux would be scared of the command line and avoid trying to use it. Also, there have been things that have been easy to screw in Windows in the past whereas in Linux you really work at it. In particular, the superuser system prevents prevents people from easily doing something that mess up the system without logging on as root. It should be made clear to those new users, not to do something as superuser unless they know what they're doing. Ubuntu is also being made to be user friendly.



kip
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30 Jan 2010, 5:00 am

Vexcalibur wrote:
No, and windows doesn't either.

Just keep OS up to date, exert common sense and backup often. Antiviruses only consume CPU while giving tons of false positives and negatives.


The only times I ever have major trouble with windows viruses is when I follow advice like this.


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31 Jan 2010, 7:18 am

In linux you have to know what is going on.
I was just attacked for discussing AHRA 1008.
That's the forgotten USA Personal Music Copy Right.
My browser was old and buggy.
I did not do an "update/slowdown".
I temporarily switched to a simpler browser that doesn't recognize the malware (which only made me reboot),
and until I can fix what bug is being exploited in the browser code. YTIMG.COM is the source of the malware which
cannot be blocked by most browsers and it turns on your
microphone and webcam.
It means YouTube Image, but that is a lie, because
that is not where Youtube videos come from, just
trojans... in a YTIMG folder.
If people don't learn the truth about piRIAAcy then THEY
will seize and rob the internet via the secret ACTA/UN treaty.
It's not about music, since they always rip off their own
artists with soul selling contracts... and they are an old
statutory bureaucratic authority that was replaced by
the internet and many offline sources of free or cheap
or direct from artist music.
Got a radio? Just PRESS RECORD! AHRA 1008!