Novell rejoins desktop fight, with Linux as ally

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Re: I dunno

"I don't believe the theory that as use increases more virii will attack. A virus for Linux would be much more involved than just opening an email attachment. It would seem that you would have to jump through several hoops to allow a virus to infect a Linux box"
Your point here is correct. The architecture of a Linux/Unix based system has more security checks in it than the Windows based architecture. With the default restrictions in the modular nature of Linux, it's almost impossible to send a virus email to a Linux user that will infect the entire PC. It's not the email client; it only has the permissions to infect/damage the user's own files.

The "theory" (because that is all it is at this point) that as Linux use increases, it's viral infection RATE will increase- has no scientific bias other than simple conjecture. This theory was previously applied to the Apache web server in its infancy. Yet as its use surpassed that of IIS, it still has not been 'hit' as often as IIS is.

Reasons:
1) Windows is monolithic by design. Linux is modular by design. "A monolithic system is one where most features are integrated into a single unit. The antithesis of a monolithic system is one where features are separated out into distinct layers, each layer having limited access to the other layers. (N. Petreley)"
2) Windows depends too heavily on an RPC model. RPCs are designed to let other computers somewhere on a network tell your computer what to do. This can be good, or used malevolently.
3) Many people still use an out-dated Windows OS that is a single-user design (as opposed to a multi-user one). Pre-WinXP didn't isolate users or apps from sensitive areas of the OS. NOTE: Even XP is not a TRUE multi-user OS!

It IS true that the *total number* of infections will go up as Linux use is more wide-spread. After all a 1% infection rate (hypothetical) of 10 million is more than 1% of 1 million.

There are VERY few houses built of glass.
Many more brick houses with security systems exist.
I guess since there are more of them, the brick / security system houses are robbed more.

Posted by: SC-man   Posted on: 11/08/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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