[lug] Virus software for Linux

Peter Hutnick peter-lists at hutnick.com
Thu Apr 18 13:08:39 MDT 2002


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On Thursday 18 April 2002 12:34 pm, John Starkey wrote:
> Am I missing something? Or is there a market for this now?
>
> My conspiracy theory side thinks Microsoft is backing this to spread
> it's FUD, or the developers are feeding off the insecurities of others,
> as they switch to Linux. And my fried side thinks I've missed something,
> and there are viruses being spread in the Linux world now.
>
> Virus detection software for Linux.
> http://www.esecurityplanet.com/prodser/article/1,,10753_1011091,00.html
>
> Anyone else know how they're justifying a demand?

Is your friend an MCSE?

I don't know anything about this specific package, but the majority of AV 
software for Linux (and UNIX in general) is targeted at /Windows/ viruses, 
and is intended to remove Windows viruses from email, FTP servers and SMB 
shares.  Basically it is used as a point of defense to check files and to 
prevent the Linux system from transferring infected files.  This has nothing 
to do with Linux vulnerability to viruses, or lack thereof.

AFAIK there still are not any Linux viruses in the wild.  There are several 
worms, but they exploit known package vulnerabilities, whereas viruses 
exploit shortcomings in system architecture.  The UNIX architecture is 
resistant to viruses as compared to Windows, especially the old DOS based 
versions which include up to '98.  I /think/ one of the alphabet (ME?) 
versions is DOS based, but I don't know for sure.

Bottom line, I think that this particular package is aimed at people who think 
that viruses are a "normal" part of computing, and, therefore, don't want to 
run Linux without AV software.  So, I choose B. Insecurities, with a write-in 
for ignorance.

- -Peter

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