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From: maxx 
Subject: Re: Linux/virus
Date: Thu, 08 Mar 2007 14:09:47 +0100
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On Thu, 08 Mar 2007 12:53:49 +0000, Josiah Jenkins wrote:

> Basically it boils down to 'having a clue' !
> 
> "Linux user would have to read the email, save the attachment, give the
> attachment executable permissions, and then run the executable."
> 
> Been doing that with Forte Agent under Win for the last ten years !
> 
> It's a perfectly straightforward job to keep a Win machine free of
> virii/viruses but the vast majority of users don't know how to.
> 
> It's a different user base from Linux.

Not necessarily true. I agree that the majority of Linux users are
advanced computer users, but there are also plenty of computer-illiterate
Linux users. For instance, my father has been using Linux for the last 2
years and can read mail, visit websites, write letters, do his accounting,
etc. But if I start talking about IP adresses, firewalls or hard disk
partitioning he doesn't have a clue what I'm talking about. The thing is:
Linux prevents him from doing anything r3eally harmful. Sure, he can
delete his homedir, but because I've taught him how to backup/restore his
homedir no real harm is done. But on a Windows system he'd have to be an
Administrator to do the most basic stuff. This also means that when he
gets a dodgy e-mail luring him to a malware site, he'll probably click
ahead and (without him knowing it) the site will have installed some
malware on the Windows box. On a Linux system that couldn't happen,
because his user rights don't allow him, to install stuff...

So yes, there is a difference in user base, but it's the difference in
security inmplementation between Linux and Windows that's the real problem.

-- 
gr,
maxx
:wq!
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