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Posts: 336 | Thanked: 610 times | Joined on Apr 2008 @ France
#11
Originally Posted by lancewex View Post
I know someone who lives and works linux and has since it came into existence. He said linux has had something like 7 viruses since it was created. Of course those specific exploits have been fixed. Theoretically of course and can get viruses. But it's simply much harder to write them for it. And the linux community would jump on a weakness with speed (unlike Microshaft Winblows).
There's been a lot more than that. "Working and living Linux" is complete BS if you ask me, and it doesn't imply any kind of credentials.

Have a Google for "rootkit" and "ken thompson rootkit".
 
Posts: 1,751 | Thanked: 844 times | Joined on Feb 2010 @ Sweden
#12
Are you trying to imply that the chance of getting a virus on a linux machine is equal to a windows machine?

There is two ways:
1.) You could do it if you have physical reach of the system. (pretty unlikely if it's no one you know)
2.) The rootkit need to match your system.

Linux is a very individual system unlike Windows where much stays the same. There is always a chance to get infected but also a chance that the rootkit dont work on your system.

I would say that as long as you stay with the official repositories and don't install any individual packages like *.deb or Tar.gz. the chance of infection is pretty slim. The only thing that is needed is a friewall like UWN or something.
 
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#13
http://wiki.maemo.org/General_precautions

just skip maemo-spesific ones and there is simple survival guide
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Posts: 58 | Thanked: 17 times | Joined on Jan 2010
#14
Yes its possible.

However its VERY unlikely that you will.

1: Writers dont tend to bother with linux mainly due to the lack of mainstream PC users.
2: If a hole is exploited, It tends to get fixed VERY fast by the community.
 
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#15
Proper viruses are very improbable on Linux. Trojans can infect anything and everything though, and worms are also something that happens occasionally.
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Posts: 80 | Thanked: 40 times | Joined on Feb 2010 @ UK
#16
Originally Posted by lynxus View Post
1: Writers dont tend to bother with linux mainly due to the lack of mainstream PC users.
True up to a point, but what about all the Linux web servers? Far higher value targets than a mere home PC! It's worth it, but it's too hard rather than it's not worth it due to low usage, I'd say.
 
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