[Hidden-tech] Windows security (sic)

[Ben Liyanage]

This is the way windows virii work as well.  You 'get root' by convincing
the user to run your application, thus infecting their computer.  To say
that linux machines do not get virus because they dominate the server market
is a little excessive as well.  If the average person did not use his
computer at all but instead left it running on his desk he would not get
virii either.

I'd also say that most people that use linux for their desktop systems are
like me--people with a degree in computer science, and/or a divine
fascination with computers.  We are less likely to infect our computers with
virii.

This brings to mind a blurb that was on one of my old professors door that
went something like this:

If automobiles were built like a linux machine, the odometers, spedometers,
or any other meter on the dash of the car would be replaced simply by a red
exclamation mark that lit up when something went wrong--an experienced linux
administrator would already know what the problem was.

-----Original Message-----
From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
[mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net]On Behalf Of David
Mertz, Ph.D.
Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2005 9:46 PM
To: Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] Windows security (sic)


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On May 27, 2005, at 1:50 PM, Mark Bucciarelli wrote:
> It also doesn't hold up when you look at the virus counts and compare
> to desktop share:
> - there are about 60,000 viruses known for Windows, 40 or so for the
> Macintosh, and perhaps 40 for Linux.

Good points overall Mark.  But you vastly overstate the number of
"viruses" for Mac OSX and/or Linux.  It certainly comes nowhere close
to 40 for either (Mac Classic had a couple minor ones, it is true).
What gets called a virus on those unix-like systems is always a
"theoretical attack that might work if you can already 'get root', or
if the user cooperates to a high degree with the attack."

The number of historical "live" viruses for either OSX or Linux is
exactly zero.  And the worst attack that could ever conceivably be
developed for either is far less serious than the sort of thing a
Windows machine gets infected with on a daily basis.

Remember, friends don't let friends run Windows!

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