[lug] Virus software for Linux

[Jonathan Briggs]

I have to disagree with the general idea that virus scanners will be
useless on Linux.  I think that with the popularity of Linux rising,
virus scanners will become necessary as standard parts of desktop
security.

Many of today's "virus scanners" are actually much more than that.  They
include what amounts to host-based intrusion detection.  For example,
malicious JavaScript and Flash programs may be blocked, even if the web
browser would be happy to execute them.  Trojan programs (not
technically viruses) may be blocked, even if the user is silly enough to
execute them.

We may also have to deal with Microsoft Office on Linux.  It can be run
today using the Codeweaver Crossover program, and in the future there
may even be a native port.

If Linux starts running Microsoft software, Linux will need to deal with
Microsoft (non)security (mis)features.  We will certainly need virus
scanners then.

Remember, it isn't much comfort that your root owned system programs and
files are perfectly safe, when all the data owned by your user account
has just been wiped out.

On Thu, 2002-04-18 at 13:39, John Starkey wrote:
> On Thu, 2002-04-18 at 13:08, Peter Hutnick wrote:
> 
> > > Anyone else know how they're justifying a demand?
> > 
> > Is your friend an MCSE?
> 
> Nah, this wasn't sent to me, it came up in an RSS feed on a site I run.
> 
> John
> _______________________________________________
> Web Page:  http://lug.boulder.co.us
> Mailing List: http://lists.lug.boulder.co.us/mailman/listinfo/lug
-- 
Jonathan Briggs
jbriggs at esoft.com
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: signature.asc
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 232 bytes
Desc: This is a digitally signed message part
URL: <http://lists.lug.boulder.co.us/pipermail/lug/attachments/20020418/4dfb3c09/attachment.pgp>