[clug] Anti-Virus Software

[Ivan Lazar Miljenovic]

Ivan Lazar Miljenovic <ivan.miljenovic at gmail.com> writes:

> Sam Couter <sam at couter.id.au> writes:
>
>> Ivan Miljenovic <ivan.miljenovic at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> greater in-built security (since hardly anyone
>>> uses root as their day-to-day account)
>>
>> This is one of the most dangerous misconceptions with regards to Linux
>> security.
>>
>> root only owns system files like installed software. That can be
>> replaced off any old install CD. You're probably running your browser
>> with the same user privileges as all your really important stuff, like
>> your photos, documents, source code, projects, etc. That's the data
>> that's valuable, and it's most vulnerable.
>>
>>> + fewer random exes to download
>>> and execute in the wild
>>
>> A function of popularity. If Linux becomes more popular, more random
>> software will be available for download, and it will carry random
>> malicious payloads. Then we'll have many of the same problems Windows
>> systems have.
>
> What I meant was this: with that UnrealIRCd example I gave earlier, in
> Gentoo at least it is run as a separate user by default.  As such, it
> can't affect your system or your user files.

I forgot to mention: with the whole random exe thing, most Linux users
stick to just their distro's repo for software, which are generally
trustworthy (the UnrealIRCd example not withstanding).

-- 
Ivan Lazar Miljenovic
Ivan.Miljenovic at gmail.com
IvanMiljenovic.wordpress.com