[ale] Linux and Virii

[Dow Hurst]

In addition to what others have said, an important point to make is that 
most Linux users use a mail client that doesn't have preconfigured 
helper applications or plugins that auto-run downloaded files or 
attachments to email.  It is my thought that that fact alone saves most 
people from real problems.  You can set up a second user besides 
yourself for doing email to protect your own files and just use ssh to 
display the mail client on your screen.  Under Linux or any Unix type 
system, users are not running as root so any "virus" would only damage 
the files of the user due to permission and ownership settings.  Under 
Windows you run as root and your mail clients normally come preset with 
all kinds of auto-run mimetypes.  Plus the kernel, browser, and mail 
client are closely intertwined when using IE and Outlook.  It is a 
situation no security conscious programmer would put together for a 
business.  No management would tolerate such a situation if they were 
made properly aware of the risks.  I think most management just don't 
realize what danger and cost they are liable to by using MicroSoft 
software to run their business.

Plus, most of the insecurity of Windows is designed for non business 
type activities.  Real business activities work very well in a tightly 
controlled secure computing environment when setup properly.

Actually, the wasted money on working hours spent on inappropriate usage 
of business computing resources could be spent on securing the business 
computing resources and redirecting employees on productive behavior.  
Very few users need Real Player or Windows Media Player to start up 
automatically when browsing the Web.  In fact, most people don't need to 
have multimedia nor to be root on a computer.  Access to printers, 
access to the Web, access to email can all be controlled appropriately 
without any risk of virii or worms getting into the business environment 
due to inappropriate usage or privilege of any user.  But only if you 
have all your users on a Unix model....

Dow

Robert Coggins wrote:

>Hey all,
>
>Today is an interesting day here at work.  There is a virus spreading
>through the company like wildfire.  People are undoubtingly showing extreme
>ignorance as to how virii can spread on a computer. However, I started
>thinking about it.  I know the threat for a virus on a linux machine is
>tremendously less than on a windows machine.  My question is...  As a linux
>user is it something I should be concerned with.  Also, are there virus
>protectors readily available for linux machines.
>
>Thanks guys!
>Rob
>
>_______________________________________________
>Ale mailing list
>Ale at ale.org
>http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
>
>  
>

-- 
__________________________________________________________
Dow Hurst                  Office: 770-499-3428
Systems Support Specialist    Fax: 770-423-6744
1000 Chastain Rd. Bldg. 12
Chemistry Department SC428  Email:   dhurst at kennesaw.edu
Kennesaw State University         Dow.Hurst at mindspring.com
Kennesaw, GA 30144
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