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It would affect more than you can even imagine
We are replacing windows servers at an average rate of one a week. Installation of new systems that run on Linux are also averaging about one a week. Everytime a new scare like this comes out the volume of inquiries jumps 20%. MS does more to increase our business than we do.

If Linux was susceptible to viruses like Windows is, the internet would practically collapse. 67% of web servers are OSS, 89% of mail servers and gateways are OSS and over half of the backend services are running on Linux. Don't believe me? Do some research of biggies like E-Bay and Amazon and some of the largest financial institutions.

Windows is flawed by design. To put it in extremely simplified terms, windows doesn't carry the uid and gid into the execution space so once you execute something in memory, it is almost impossible to control. Linux DOESN'T do that.

As a result, windows is a soft target. To assault a Linux system the same way you need the intelligence and programming equivelant to a jackhammer, cutting torch and C4. For windows systems, you can do the same damage with the equivilant of a plastic spork.

Spammers used to thrive on open relays and exploiting UNIX/Linux systems with oooolldd versions of sendmail (pre 8.9). Since sendmail changed it's default behavior to no_relay and added smrsh for execution it has become almost unexploitable.

Why go through all the work of trying to find ever decreasing numbers of open relays when you can write a simple W32 virus that will do all the work for you and bust open thousands of ripe, juicy windows systems?

There are more Linux systems (Server and Desktop) than anyone realizes and they are increasing at a rate that is almost impossible measure. One day you are going to wake in a different world.

My business is ripping out windows systems and business is very, very good. http://www.eclinux.com
Posted by: ECLS   Posted on: 07/13/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Wow, they don't even bother to mention it's a "W32" only problem anymore  Xunil_Sierutuf | 07/13/04
If it was Linux virus, it wouldn't even make the news.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/13/04
LOL... you just keep thinking that in your own little reality  Xunil_Sierutuf | 07/13/04
And you keep the "dream" alive. k?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/13/04
Windows didn't catch on in a year  Michael Kelly | 07/13/04
Linux won't replace Windows - BUT...  coffeeroyal@... | 07/13/04
You know better than that...  Michael Kelly | 07/13/04
just because he knows better,  ryusen | 07/13/04
Same ole bity, same ol BS.  AmusedAtItAll | 07/13/04
I have a dog, you.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/13/04
Sticklers Unite  Grammarian | 07/13/04
RemedialEnglish is not one of No_Ax?s strong points.  B.O.F.H. | 07/13/04
RemedialEnglish  dumbumpkin | 07/13/04
But isn't the real problem  sqr(cos(180)) | 07/13/04
no i don't beleive it...  ryusen | 07/13/04
LOL!...Exactly!  jstoker@... | 07/13/04
It would affect more than you can even imagine  ECLS | 07/13/04
7.9 for references to the "spork" (NT)  Monkey_MCSE | 07/13/04
It'd be HEADLINE news  voska | 07/13/04
re: It'd be HEADLINE news  richdave | 07/13/04
Conversely  michael-t | 07/13/04
They dont have to  LTE | 07/13/04
Sticklers Unite  Grammarian | 07/13/04
Wonder how much $ ...  bjbrock | 07/13/04
UHHH ... Isn't it assumed it's MicroSoft  gitmo | 07/13/04
Linking Mystery  eric.d.dobbs@... | 07/13/04
That seems to be machine-specific problem  NT Admin | 07/13/04
Linking Mystery?  rgetsla | 07/14/04
i dunno about that...  ryusen | 07/13/04
Got Exploit?  Chad_z | 07/13/04
No thanks - having a wonderful day...  Confused by religion | 07/13/04
Here you go Milly..  Xunil_Sierutuf | 07/13/04
she just likes to rant..  Monkey_MCSE | 07/13/04
Actually...  Confused by religion | 07/13/04
definitely no apology sent...  Monkey_MCSE | 07/13/04
Netgear has been  Linux User 147560 | 07/13/04
Milly did you try  michael-t | 07/13/04
give me a break Milly;  ryusen | 07/13/04
But can it run Photoshop  CShock | 07/13/04
tried codeweavers?  ryusen | 07/13/04
who's paying?  ryusen | 07/13/04
Core Wars  rgriffith64@... | 07/13/04
Wow, all that coding talent going to this  FilledOut | 07/13/04
Now  Linux User 147560 | 07/13/04
You're absolutley correct!!!  medezark | 07/13/04
i would hardly call "certain companies"  ryusen | 07/13/04
Yes, as the most widely distributed OS with flaws and exploitable features  FilledOut | 07/14/04
Smith and Wesson makes Bank Heists easier also....  GregSalts | 07/14/04
Re: Smith& Wesson analogy  eulagree | 07/15/04
Making criminals Job easier...  Boyd | 07/15/04
Re: You're absolutely correct!  RealAusTech | 07/13/04
Excellent Post!!  djc1309@... | 07/14/04
All that coding talent - It's the Economy  goldy_z | 07/15/04
Win vs Lin and people destorying PC's  ibabadur1 | 07/13/04
Agree to a point.  GoodOyster | 07/13/04
Re: Win vs Lin and people destorying PC's  BXLE | 07/13/04
re: Re: Win vs Lin and people destorying PC's  Iain_Peters | 07/13/04
Actually, no.  middle of nowhere | 07/13/04
Computers for n00bs...  strawbrn | 07/13/04
You're just clueless.  hulse_kevin | 07/13/04
blah blah blah blah blah hulse_kevin...  DigitalKid | 07/13/04
re:blah blah  richdave | 07/13/04
re:blah blah  richdave | 07/13/04
Thank you!  strawbrn | 07/14/04
Amen!  tgrady | 07/15/04
Becareful strawbrn.....don't make too much sense..  DigitalKid | 07/13/04
"She has a Mac."  tgrady | 07/15/04
three points of defense...  ryusen | 07/13/04
With what we have to use now, I agree.  agottschald | 07/13/04
I wholeheartedly...  eulagree | 07/15/04
You say  twblackmon@... | 07/15/04
And it's not just computer n00bs  fgreyfox | 07/13/04
Who is responsible  wisperingwind@... | 07/13/04
Not caused by poor code  ibabadur1 | 07/13/04
But what if the lock is defective  voska | 07/13/04
Doesn't Matter  gsquared | 07/13/04
Lock anology  Cerebral*Origami | 07/13/04
Please excuse the typos/spelling - I forgot to proof read.  Cerebral*Origami | 07/13/04
re: Lock anology  Iain_Peters | 07/13/04
9 months eh?  PmAc_z | 07/13/04
Lock Quality is the issue, security cost $$$ for a reason  voska | 07/13/04
Poor code is the Root Cause  NT Admin | 07/13/04
Not caused by poor code but  michael-t | 07/13/04
Question  NT Admin | 07/13/04
It's good to know  michael-t | 07/13/04
For the love of god, why is everything a linux/MS war?  DigitalKid | 07/13/04
C'mon Digi don't mince words tell us how you really feel  Squawkbox | 07/13/04
Funny!  strawbrn | 07/13/04
The Same reason Chev and Ford driver fight  voska | 07/13/04
I like my Ford Truck  toadlife | 07/13/04
I Feel For You, Digi......  tlciii | 07/14/04
Right you are!  DigitalKid | 07/14/04
Funny haven't seen this on a major AV site  pjg1173 | 07/13/04
Interesting if...  Domb2 | 07/13/04
What we REALLY need are  michaelchapek@... | 07/13/04
NanoWorms  dr_who@... | 07/14/04
(NT) NanoWorms - Steve Gibson could write them.  toadlife | 07/14/04
Ahh- the joys of Talkback messenge boards!  mrb971@... | 07/14/04
WORM WARS!! (:  dr_who@... | 07/14/04
worm sleeps to avoid detection  twomanyhats@... | 07/14/04
Atak worm avoiding detection  krystaltierz@... | 07/15/04
Actually...  eulagree | 07/15/04
Worm sleeps to avoid detection  a8a09923@... | 07/15/04
I also wanted to add a final/semi-final note.  eulagree | 07/15/04
That is because  victor@... | 07/15/04
ATTACK!  Roderick2359 | 07/19/04
IE won't go away...  FastEddie_z | 07/26/04

What do you think?

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