Re: Linux and security

From: Johannes Halmann (softpro_at_gmx.net)
Date: 07/28/03 

Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 10:46:42 +0200

> it's
> possible to examine what the code actually does. Also, because the
> underlying UNIX *style* of priveleged users do critical things,
> unprivileged users are not allowed was built in long before Microsoft
> stole VMS from DEC and created such features in NT, it's been hammered
> on and tested and refined.

hmm, MAYBE linux/unix are better designed than windows! i believe so, but
how could we know??
the point is not WHEN certain features came into being used but what the
situation is RIGHT now. the actual windows-systems have user-management and
with ACLs even much finer in granularity then for example linux!
the never-ending stream of exploits for windows is certainly a main reason
for worms and even viruses to prosper, but it is my firm belief, that in
most of the cases the user installs a virus by accident (and if it is by
using Internet Explorer against all warnings) and not so much the security
of the OS. all the OS is supposed to do, is encapsulate the users action in
order to protect other users from his doings. but how can a OS protect a
users files from himself?

so, the spread of viruses increases with the stupidity and technical
ignorance of the users and is not so strongly correlated with the OS, code
review, ...

with worms it is another topic, but these use flaws in applications and
against that the OS can again do little.

jethr0

Relevant Pages

  • Re: HELP! KLEZ & PE_ELKERN.A Virus
    ... > I have Windows XP Microsoft Outlook Express. ... > recently contaminated KLEZ & PE_ELKERN viruses which I ... The problem, I think, lies with the virus ... Almost any virus protection software would protect you from something ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: Linux and security
    ... >> windows. ... how would a virus come to ... > about worms? ... > against the threat of viruses, but someone will ALWAYS have to have ...
    (comp.os.linux.security)
  • Re: Viruses in linux?
    ... > Worms are not viruses. ... worms & viruses are /not/ "trojans", which differ in that they attempt, ... what you call a virus (for windows) as a "windows worm" instead -- the ...
    (alt.os.linux.suse)
  • Re: [PHP] Re: hello
    ... From my reading I get the impression that the above statement, "Linux is just as susceptible to viruses, worms, and other malware", is inaccurate. ... I run Ubuntu Linux for workstations, FreeBSD Unix for servers, and have a Mac running OS X for testing Safari, and use Windows only for testing IE and specific Windows software. ...
    (php.general)
  • Re: This lady is an iDiot!
    ... You aren't immune to viruses ... get viruses or worms," they say. ... the first worms built to take down Mac OS X surfaced. ... OSX is DIFFERENT than Windows, ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)