Sample virus targets Windows and Linux

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Obscurity is too often confused with security

Of course obscurity can lead to security. It definitely does in the case of linux on the desktop. In all practicality, linux *is* more secure than Windows for desktop use, but the claim cannot be made that it's security is a result of it's design befcause it is not subjected to the same attention as Windows is.

"How many...sorry what percentage of...Windows users know how to setup a non admin account and USE it on Windows?"

I happen to be one of them, but I would say probably very low. On the contrary, what percentage of computer users could set up and USE linux on the desktop? Judging by percentages, I'd say that number is very low too.

"Linux by contrast runs as non-admin BY DEFAULT."

That's super, but root permissions are not required by malware. The default admin permissions in Windows are nothing but a door prize.

"How many Windows users know how to close ports which are left open by default in Windows?

Linux by contrast has ports CLOSED by default."

XPSP2 was released two years ago, and all new versions of Windows XP have come with SP2 integrated for quite some time now. Yeah, MS was a little late in doing this, but it's done. And not all GNU/Linux distros come with "ports closed" by default.

"Windows is inherantly less secure than Linux, but can be MADE, with some effort I might add, to be about as secure."

Windows is inherently more targeted than linux.

"I'm running Linux on the desktop and I'm an average user. Hell I can't get a non-admin Windows user account to work properly. No problems in Linux."

Running windows with a non-admin account is no harder than running linux with one. There are plenty of resources out on the net that can help you to fix the issues that come with running as a limited user in Windows. I guess you took the easy route and went with a more obscure OS?

I must ask, why even compare linux with WIndows when it comes to desktop security? It's like comparing workplace mortality rates of a colombian mercenary with a american secretary. There are billions of dollars to be made by infecting Windows desktop computers. Linux is irrelevant in this regard as there are almost ZERO of them to be had. If you were some botnet owner, and you were trying to bolster your bot-net and you had a both a firefox vulnrability (that worked in linux) and an IE vulnerability at your disposal, which would YOU deploy to pull in more drones? Why bother trying to nab linux machines when theres a good chance you won't even run accross one?

Posted by: toadlife   Posted on: 04/10/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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