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Why Linux doesnt need an anti virus
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Most of the posts here are FUD.
Linux does have virii, the first was in 1995.
However because you do not have admin rights by default on linux (with the exception of one distribution) they have minimal effect - they cannot infect the system; possibly the local user might get stung but that's all they can do, they can't propogate, they can't access the system.
Its nothing to do with numbers of users, market share open vs closed source, its down to basic errors in Microsoft products.
Linux was largely developed over internet, Microsoft under-estimated the demand & effect of networking.
I do have antivirus installed, mainly so I don't pass Windows malware onto Windows users.
see: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/10...ndows_viruses/
"Opinion To mess up a Linux box, you need to work at it; to mess up your Windows box, you just need to work on it, writes SecurityFocus columnist Scott Granneman."
Linux does have virii, the first was in 1995.
However because you do not have admin rights by default on linux (with the exception of one distribution) they have minimal effect - they cannot infect the system; possibly the local user might get stung but that's all they can do, they can't propogate, they can't access the system.
Its nothing to do with numbers of users, market share open vs closed source, its down to basic errors in Microsoft products.
Linux was largely developed over internet, Microsoft under-estimated the demand & effect of networking.
I do have antivirus installed, mainly so I don't pass Windows malware onto Windows users.
see: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/10...ndows_viruses/
"Opinion To mess up a Linux box, you need to work at it; to mess up your Windows box, you just need to work on it, writes SecurityFocus columnist Scott Granneman."
exactly as i said
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vista and linux are the same in terms of security. The only reason vista has a higjer incidence is because users are TOTAL RETARDS as they run as administrators, not limited accounts. UAC goes some way to fixing this. If everyone on linux operated as root then it would be just as virus prone
Last edited by jbennet; Mar 11th, 2008 at 7:46 pm.
If i am helpful, please give me reputation points.
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Originally Posted by jbennet 
exactly as i said
If at any time I inferred that you did not please accept my sincerest apologies.
My apology for going OT in this thread with my apology.
dont worry about it Virus writers don't know where to start in *nix distros. Thats why they intend not to make such virus(es) like in windows OS's. Thats the best of being a *nix user.
pLan yOur wOrK and wOrK yoUr pLan
a reason for linux no viruses and antivirus is the lack of bugs if compared with windows as an example and also the number of users is smaller if this number gets more i think we will find more holes and there might found viruses and antiviruses for it
<bangs head on desk>
NO it is because Windows is intrinsically less secure.
Belatedly, in Vista, they do not allow jeust anybody to install applications, either from the keyboard, or from an email attachment for example.
But then the dickheads go and make it easy to turn off.
NO it is because Windows is intrinsically less secure.
Belatedly, in Vista, they do not allow jeust anybody to install applications, either from the keyboard, or from an email attachment for example.
But then the dickheads go and make it easy to turn off.
I hate backseat moderating, but "dickheads" isn't a family friendly word.
And, no. Windows isn't less secure, people just don't know how to properly use the security. You won't get virii if you stay off of malicious websites, and don't sign up for stupid newsletters.
Again, if you stay as a limited account, and not as root, you'll be fine. On Windows -- stay limited, not as Administrator. I firmly believe that Windows should just abandon "UAC" and just require a password for every admin-run program.
And, no. Windows isn't less secure, people just don't know how to properly use the security. You won't get virii if you stay off of malicious websites, and don't sign up for stupid newsletters.
Again, if you stay as a limited account, and not as root, you'll be fine. On Windows -- stay limited, not as Administrator. I firmly believe that Windows should just abandon "UAC" and just require a password for every admin-run program.
Toshiba M115 ● 1.49 GB DDR-2 RAM ● 1.6 GHz Centrino Duo ● 80GB HDD ● Windows XP Media Center Edition
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Originally Posted by linux
I hate backseat moderating, but "dickheads" isn't a family friendly word.
Atheist: God is man made imagination, he doesn't exist!
Theist: It's okay, can you imagine anything else that doesn't exist?
Junior MD --- Python, C++ and PHP
Theist: It's okay, can you imagine anything else that doesn't exist?
Junior MD --- Python, C++ and PHP
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