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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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