[clug] My windows box got rooted last week... how at risk is Linux?

[Grant Baldwin]

Try `grep Failed /var/log/auth/log` on an internet exposed box.

I would say there is enough activity out there that doing something stupid can get you in trouble. As with windows boxes though, hiding behind NAT and not executing untrustworthy files as a privileged user will eliminate practically all problems for a home user.

(Windows just has the unfortunate situation of making the default user account sufficiently privileged to be troublesome)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: linux-bounces+grant.baldwin=anu.edu.au at lists.samba.org
> [mailto:linux-bounces+grant.baldwin=anu.edu.au at lists.samba.org] On
> Behalf Of Jason Stokes
> Sent: Wednesday, 11 June 2008 10:08 AM
> To: linux at lists.samba.org
> Subject: [clug] My windows box got rooted last week... how at risk is
> Linux?
> 
> Appeared to be downloading trojanish stuff over http from urls I never
> connect to.  I had to pull the internet connection and spend the
> weekend reinstalling everything.  I hate Microsoft.
> 
> I've heard of Linux getting rooted, but the distros are pretty secure
> out of the box these days, right?  I don't hear much about Linux
> viruses, or massive botnets of Linux boxes.
> 
> 
>       Get the name you always wanted with the new y7mail email address.
> www.yahoo7.com.au/mail
> --
> linux mailing list
> linux at lists.samba.org
> https://lists.samba.org/mailman/listinfo/linux