Re: ESET anti virus

OK

From the messages received so far, I conclude the following:

- Linux is NOT invulnerable and also has its weaknesses. Practising safe
computing is always a requirement.

- The free solutions are not up-to-date as quickly as commercial ones

- Vulnerabilities are not so much viruses, as they can also be malware,
traps and bots. 

- One of the reasons Windows has so much malware is that it has a much
bigger market share, and so is a way more interesting targets for
attacks. If (ever) Linux becomes that popular, it will also become such
target. 

- As I am rather careful on what I install and do under Linux as under
Windows, and re-do my systems on a regular basis anyway, I might just be
fine with free ones like AVG. But this is me.

Thanks, everyone for your feedbacks.

I am Linux,
And Windows 7 was NOT my idea !.......
 
JF



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [oclug] ESET anti virus
From: Brad Barnett <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, April 13, 2011 12:23 am
To: [email protected]


Just a FYI, there's been at least a dozen plus cases of vulnerabilities
in
the kernel, in the last year alone.

Actually, those are just the ones I've noticed. Privilege escalation
isn't always a userland issue.

http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2153

Four cases of possible privilege escalation in that single patch alone.

Linux is *quite* vulnerable to viruses. It is merely the way Linux is
administered, that protects most installations.

How many people download wallpaper packs as executables, and run them
under Linux? How many people download codec packs under Linux, and just
run them?

I assure you, if people start doing things like that, those 4
vulnerabilities in the above patch could quite easily give a virus root
privileges. Since there are a dozen or so of said vulnerabilities a
year in the kernel alone, anyone thinking Linux is somehow super secure
is living in a fairytale land.

If Linux ever hits the point that viruses writers start targeting
specific vulnerabilities, and users start acting like inexperienced
Windows users, look out.

Heck, if someone really wanted to, it would be a piece of cake to hit
some of the Firefox vulnerabilities, coupled with a kernel exploit, to
get root. It's simply that we're not target worthy, due to a lack
of market penetration...

The Linux desktop is quite vulnerable, as it sits now...


On Tue, 12 Apr 2011 22:27:27 -0400
Patrick Ouellette <[email protected]> wrote:

> The free solution won't get you immediate updates for the virus DB, JF.
> And, before ANYONE hurls at me about how Linux doesn't have viruses,
> it's not about the Kernel but the services and service apps running -
> THEY'RE vulnerable :P Linux is way more secure as a whole, but the apps
> are vulnerable - granted, bit less than Windows apps, but still.
> 
> Last security conference I went to discussed the fact that 30-40% of
> the Bots out there are Linux based... 
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Patrick Ouellette
> Algonquin College - School of Advanced Technology
> Program Coordinator - Computer Systems Technician & Technology-
> Networking / Security Programs Professor - Computer Studies Department
> ________________________________________
> From: [email protected] [[email protected]]
> On Behalf Of Jean-Francois Messier [[email protected]] Sent: April-12-11
> 6:56 PM To: OCLUG
> Subject: [oclug] ESET anti virus
> 
> I got this email AD about ESET for Linux. Although there are very few
> viruses under Linux, I wanted to know what everyone is thinking. Am I
> better with some free solution, or is ESET worth the cost of $60 for 2
> years ?
> 
> Thanks :-)
> 
> I am Linux,
> And Windows 7 was NOT my idea !.......
> 
> JF
> 
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