Anti-virus software is dead – use Linux
Get GNU/Linux.
UPDATE: Because this post became pretty popular at StumbleUpon, I also posted it to Digg… so if you like it, Digg away!
The Internetling on Digg- HOWTO: Intel GMA 500 (Poulsbo) on Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx
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- Linux : Top 10 Responses To Why Should I Use Linux.
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Because Mac OSX is just so bad, we all have to get linuz and all?
How bout we all run DOS instead, almost as useful as linux. if not better than it.
lol
You clearly have little Linux experience, my friend
A v linuxu se pa ne da virusa napisat? ko bo dost % folka uporabljal linux da se bo komu splaÄal “portat” viruse nanj mogoÄe ne bo tako simpl.
(ne nisem MS fanboy, samo vprašam)
English, please
If I answer your question; yes, it is without doubt possible, but with a n opensource project you have tons of people working and tweaking and looking at the code so flaws get fixed in a much faster rate
Isn’t that Linus’s Law? “given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow”
Ok , you win (or should I say, we all win).
((or should I say we all lin))
The problem with Linux and viruses in not the problem is not that not many users use it. The problems that viruses face in Linux is that users and system are separated. No one actually “roots” and uses it’s own user to use the computer. While on Windows, everyone is an administrator, that’s why the viruses mess up the system there.
But the more “click-click” users go to Linux the more it becomes Windows-like, where everyone would like to be root to setup programs without a problem.
That’s why you use “sudo” when installing something
[...] Via [...]
You have to wonder though, at some point there were no windows viruses. Viruses and malware in general became so abundant on Windows primarily for several reasons.
1) Windows is the the dominant OS in the market so malware writers write viruses for Windows to infect the largest group.
2) Most new PCs come with Windows so there are many noob Windows owners who don’t know how to secure their PC.
3) Windows has historically left some gaping security holes, most of which are closed in SP2.
So, with the exception of #3, who is to say that Linux won’t have the same problems of #1 and #2 if it were to become the dominant OS? It’s not impossible to write Linux viruses and I’m sure you could get some noob users to install malware on their Linux box if they bought it at Walmart.
Yes, there are viruses for Linux. But if you would take the time to learn a little about Linux, you would realize that the reason Linux is so much safer from viruses is because viruses have so much difficulty propagating on Linux. Nothing writes to your harddrive in Linux unless you give it permission.
@linuxamp:
I agree with #1, but not with #2 – Even though a new user doesn’t know how to setup a Linux machine to be secure, Linux does it for thm with user rights management.
Linux has its own set of problems. If you’re a computer fool, be warned, it’s not fool – proof. Go to LinuxForums.com to get a taste of potential problems you might have. I and those I know who have tried linux have met with mixed success with some of the wireless and video card drivers. If you want to avoid a driver pickle, check your system out before you install, and look up the word “command line” on google.
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article o.us poetry, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.
Firestorm said, “But the more “click-click†users go to Linux the more it becomes Windows-like, where everyone would like to be root to setup programs without a problem.”
It won’t be as much a problem as it is on Windows, because a well-designed program should not NEED to have root/admin access.
If the program has not been designed correctly, the issue is not with Linux, but with the program the person is using that creates a weakness that did not previously exist.
So buy a Mac. Be a part of the “experience”.
Meh. Fanboys of all OSs spout that they are right.
Clearly *nix systems are doing something right if even OSX is based off of it.
But while not all of us can afford a Mac, did it occur to any one that those of us who can still don’t want one?
By being unique, you conform. “I have a iPod, I am unique”
Gimme a break.
Mac lovers love your mac, but those who hate just cause it isn’t a mac need to shove their heads back up their ars.
That goes for all fanboys.
I say, use what you like, all else be fracked.
RipperZane: Amen, brother. Amen.
The continued use of Microsoft products is proof that 90% of the computing population are 90% ignorant of computing.
Do you really think that MacOS X is so bad? The only bad is the price for the hardware to run…it seems that you never had a Mac. I agree that antivirus software are dead. The end of an era
I hereby give you the award for shortest post ever. I think antivirus companies and products are generally trash, but still a necessary evil.
Actually, I had a Bondi Blue. That was my first mac (only one I owned). Since then I have moved my mother to MacOSX, XP, and soon to Ubuntu (Linux Mint, actually). The reason for the first was cause she likes pretty things. The reason I got her on a Mac was because it was stable, and it was novel. The latter was due to a storm took out the mac, so I made her a makeshift PC to get her on XP. The latter is due to that the hardware I have runs Ubuntu better then XP, or is at least comparable, but the add/remove function for her is important. No guru stuff needed for me to help her install apps. Plus Using Hamachi (yes I have it working in Ubuntu 7.10) allows me to VNC to her PC with no major issue.
I have used many distros of linux. i have gone from slackware, caldera, Suse, redhat, fedora (yes I know it opensource redhat), linspire, and ubuntu.
In the end, I like Ubuntu.
I love being able to do stuff on a linux, like recompile a kernel and all, but having repo’s calculate dependencies is a beauty, plus the fact that it seems to work decently well. Also, guides and how-to’s work (80% of the time) and I am guessing I will get yelled at for this, but I like it when my linux, well, actually works.
I like osx, but as I have heard it said about macs, I feel like I am not using a mac but more along for the “experience”. K, thanks, I would like to make my own experience when it comes to the desktop of my choice.
I like XP, hate Vista, Respect OSX (though having to buy updates constantly (10.2, 10.4, etc etc) bugs me) and love linux. I should say I love ubuntu, and sometimes hate *nix.
In the end I like what I like, and be fracked what fan boys say. Buy what you buy, use what you NEED/can afford, and let haters blurt. In the end, I agree Ubuntu is great, and this comes from 10+ years of linux usage, and it actually being a viable use for the desktop experience. It is lovely to see microshaft loose market share till they actually come out with a good o/s. But I still like being able to get my desktop with no licensing issues, free (as in freedom, not as in free beer).
RZ
http://www.rustylime.com/show_article.php?id=1294
Here is a quick injection of Mac Users.
Watch it all the way.
And keep in mind it is just for humor.
@Yarr:
Sure, specially when you would like to install a program system wide for everyone to use it right? On a single user computer this shouldn’t be a problem, but if you have more users and would like everyone to use it it would be nice to have some root rights.
Your assuming some chinese nigger doesn’t write a Linux virus.
@Firestorm:
Why would you need root access?
As long as the program is designed correctly, it could be used across networks without having to have access to root.
Just because most Windows programs need admin access to run correctly does not mean that all programs need admin(root) access to run correctly; it is how they are designed that is important.
The IT can set up the program while in root, sure, and they may have to, but every-day use of programs on a network? Root access should not be required, and, as I’ll reiterate once more, as long as the program is designed for it, it will not need root or admin access.
It is a design flaw, and a security risk, to create a program that /requires/ a root or admin access to run correctly, though there are times (Windows AV products, for example) when such is understandable.
@Yarr:
You didn’t understand.
I don’t mean that a program would require root access to run correctly, but to be installed on a system-wide scale so every user can use it.
I haven’t actually seen a program requiring root access to run, well except those system programs, but that’s another issue.
you will have trouble convincing those closeminded windows and mac users but having been a linux ubuntu user for the past 6 months i agree 100 percent. i will admit the road to transition was’nt always smooth but anyone with a h/s education can change over to linux without a lot of headaches. you just have to get over the this is’nt windows bumps. and learn to take advantage of the excellent linux forums to get past the roughness.if microsoft ever wrote a program even close to ubuntu in quality it would’nt be released till after ameggedon and it would cost so much you’d have to be a millionaire to use it.
Why is the best antivirus of 2008 Ubuntu 6.06? Kind of dated don’t you think?
[...] Linux the Antivirus http://www.internetling.com/2008/03/09/anti-virus-software-is-dead-use-linux/ [...]
Why is the best antivirus of 2008 Ubuntu 6.06? Kind of dated don’t you think?
haha, awesome pic!
FreeBSD is better than them all. Only 8 security bugs in the default install for more than 10 years. No other OS can even compare.
So,
Maybe the best virus of 2008 is Windows Vista
To those suggesting there is no such thing as a virus for Linux, you are exhibiting ignorance in the first degree. Sure, with file permissions and chroot jails it’s a heck of a lot harder, but when Linux goes mainstream virus writers will target it as well. Sure, Windows is a terribly piece of software, but Linux isn’t the perfect be-all end-all solution, and Mac fanboys should realise their favourite platform can now be hacked simply by inserting a USB key.
@Jake, Richard
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LTS
Maybe the no-cost support is a factor.
Hmm, doesn’t Linux have majority on internet servers? Are viruses taking it down all the time?
Linux is #2 in terms of usage, under Windows. It runs on Super Computers, desktops, servers, phones, routers, etc etc.
As for the first poster, DOS had loads of viruses. OSX wouldn’t be much without Open source and Free Software. Keep that in mind when you knock the quality. If a few apps get ported the advantages would be null. Many windows users switch to Linux, but some OS X users too.
Nice photo, almost as cool as the old “Bill Gates recommends Ubuntu”
I will have to read up on Linux ‘cus I dont now anything about it. So no, I will not switch without more info…
Since you are norwegian the linuxguiden dot no er et fint sted, ubuntuguide dot org er også fin.
http://makethemove.net/ is also interessting
I think the other point thats being missed is that Windows was originally a single user OS. When Windows began to get popular, Microsoft didn’t finish the job when they made it multi-User, and tons of exploits were opened in the process. The thing about Linux/Unix was it was designed from the ground up for multi-user, and Linux patches are issued a lot faster then Windows. In the end, I have XP running with lots of FOSS software, ubuntu desktops/servers, and I respect OSX because it is pretty decent. XP is quite compatible, Linux is robust, and Mac is a combination of the two and stable right out of the box. I dislike fanboys, they always fail to see the advantages of the other Os’s.
also, there are Mac viruses as well, but they require explicit permission to install, much like linux viruses do, so they don’t propagate well. They also have few exploits to take advantage of, so there are fewer of them. Keep in mind malware is not the same thing as a virus. Malware is dependent on how well you fool the user, viruses spread on their own. Malware will always exist for every platform.
Happy Computing!
Linux needs like 20 more years of development at this rate…
7 of the top 10 first things to do with ubuntu involve editing BS in the console.. FU!
MAC OS FTW!
jako simpatican ali nemogu da skinem nista
I recently installed Norton because I was sick of it bugging me each time I turned on my new laptop, and after all, it does have some useful features. I was going to give it a trial run, and then decide to completely delete it or not. But as soon as it was up and running, it killed Messenger.
Long story short – I uninstalled it, and had to reinstall messenger. I then remembered why I’d deleted it off of my old laptop…
As soon as I can get my wireless card running, I’m moving wholly over to Linux.
Truth is, there can be virus on Linux, it just that your typical easy pray grandmother won’t use it so hackers don’t waste time creating one.
Foolish user empowered by root access can do more damage to the computer than a virus.
Regards,
Sudheer
Hell, I’d buy Ubuntu in that box just because its pretty!
Ubuntu is awesome for people wanted freedom, flexibility and functionality from their PCs.
I would recommend OSX, but only if you can use it on your PC. Macs are ridiculously overpriced and cost twice as much as the equivalent PC model.
yay, I’m really glad I live with that fruit (hint, I’m Slovenian too).
So, Gregor, did you know that Ubuntu had local privilege escalation bug for few months, it was there even after newer distro version got released and is in all likelyhood still there??
Ubuntu (and probably other debian based distros) is a piece of junk security-wise, you effectively run everything under root as long as there is this hole.
The bug has been discused on official forum, but it seems nobody really cared..
Most of people ignored it (looks like linux is finally getting retards too), but as you said with a lot of eyes people will fix it. This time we totally feed them with this bug, we were arguing whole day, it was on top of topics list and /nobody/ effing cared!!! Guess Linus’s law doesn’t really work, does it?
I’ll explain why it doesn’t work – most of people/programmers do not have time to fiddle around with other’s code – and even if they do, they do not look after bugs as this is extemely tedious job. The law works only is you limit the number of eyes to infinity. It doesn’t work the same way as communism doesn’t work (/well) – it works on premise that people will care and contribute to the system, but as we’ve seen they really don’t.
Imo the reason why linux is where it is today is IBM and Novell and few other corporations. If you allow me to use Eric S. Raymonds’s terminology – Linux’s much less ‘bazaar’ than it is ‘cathedral’ these days. That’s probably why nobody fixed that bug in ubuntu.
Also – do you remember any virus outbreak that happened lately on Windows similar to those in 2003. With Vista (and XP sp2) Windows is IMO much more secure system and I think virii of the future will rely solely on user’s stupidity. If Linux ever gets bigger marketshare then it will most certainly get retards that infest Windows systems. At that time no root seperation could help when user gets instuctions that it’s entirely okay if s/he clicks ‘OK’ on that root access dialog to get those emoticons in gaim or funny videos in Thunderbird.
Feel free to add me on msn or contact me through mail if you feel chatty. There’s always hope you can covert me to Linux
For all those people out there that say the only thing prohibitive about Mac is the price, you seem completely oblivious to the seeming complete lack of 3rd party developer support. At least linux has a million open source developers and windows has a million commercial developers… there’s like a garage full of college students somewhere in California writing Mac applications it seems.
Well, Linux must truly be as useless as DOS if I can play my Windows games, run my Windows software, run thousands of pieces of Open Source software, STILL own a functioning copy of Avast anti-virus, be productive, etc, all in Ubuntu on my crappy 1.5Ghz laptop.
Yeah, truly as useless as DOS. XD
But I jest, you’re using your supposed complete lack of knowledge on the subject for comedy. AMIRITE?
I wonder how bullshit like this ends up on the Digg frontpage. It’s probably because millions of kids with no clue does the digging. Back to /.
A powered off computer does not suffer from virus either. And it’s about as useful as a computer running Linux.
Get back to us when Linux has real presence on the desktop and people start actually using it. The matter is that it probably never happen. After all, there’s a reason why after all these years Linux is still below 1% marketshare.
http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=10
jankoM’s post in english:
“So you’re telling me viruses can’t be written in Linux? When the percentage of Linux users is high enough, you can be sure that someone will write one for it and then things won’t be as simple”
And my reply:
This statement is incorrect. As many of others have already stated, Linux (or Mac OS X for that matter) work differently. You cannot infect your entire system from Linux without root’s consent. And if you have any common sense and some obscure program asks you for root’s password (which by the way, doesn’t happen anyway), you’ll deny it access.
And regarding this picture: Who the hell uses Norton nowadays? Mostly everyone knows it’s inefficient bloat by now.
I’ve tried linux for a while, but I didn’t really like it all too much. It’s not ‘bad’, but its more of a preferred taste.
I like casual gaming and just listening to music, and I found Linux to be just as usefull as Windows on that right. ((especially being able to run all my windows games on Linux XD they’ve got some seriously kickass windows emulator stuff))
But at the end of the day, i’m not really a ‘command line’ kinda guy, and I really prefer my programs to do their own thing, instead of having to hold thier hand every step of the way.
Not bashing linux or anything, but i’ve ran Windows on the same pc here since Xp came out, and i’ve never had any viruses or bullshit bog me down. ((I prefer freeware or opensource antivirus/spyware programs like Avast! and Lavasoft))
@Onlooker:
The same thing in Windows – UAC. You could have privilege separation even on XP, though it required two accounts, in Vista UAC operates in theory exactly the same as sudo (or gksudo).
Learn few things before you go and bash things mindlessly.. stupid ape.
At least before Vista Linux fanboys had the root argument to justify themselves. Now that argument is completely dead. Maybe that’s the reason why they like to bash Vista so badly? Windows keeps patching its weak points, while Linux on the desktop is still the same turd it ever was.
Quote: Ripperzane said
“I like XP, hate Vista, Respect OSX (though having to buy updates constantly (10.2, 10.4, etc etc) bugs me) and love linux. I should say I love ubuntu, and sometimes hate *nix.”
You said it buddy. Exactly how I feel too.
Mac OSX is probably a pretty good OS, but two things keep me away- the high cost of the Mac hardware(and having to pay for updates), and the fanaticism of Apple fanbois(wouldn’t want to be associated with that loony bunch ever). And not necessarily in that order.
[...] vendor to hit the bricks and use Ubuntu the free operating system that’s also free of viruses.read more | digg [...]
The problem with the whole “installing Linux” thing is that instead of fucking the OS up security wise, like they would on Windows, they fuck it up trying to customize it. Linux is the one system I have seen the most people screw up on while trying to install something, or trying to get another program to work. If you’re not an advanced user, chances are you’re going to fail miserably when using Linux.
That being said, advanced users tend to know what anti-virus software to install on Windows.
> Nick wrote:
> Because Mac OSX is just so bad, we all have to get linuz and all?
> How bout we all run DOS instead, almost as useful as linux. if not better than it.
Tell me Nick, what do you know about the OS X core? You’ve just demonstrated a perfect match for Apple’s “Please Take Care Of Me” computer environment.
A couple of people posted in here with some very insightful things.
For one, you kid yourself if you think “linux” is the be all end all of security issues on systems. Just because you are forced to run an installer as root does not mean that security vulnerabilities don’t exist, nor does it preclude the user from the stupidity of trusting an application that wants to install under the root context.
Using “sudo” doesn’t prevent security flaws whatsoever. And you still need some processes to run as root, especially if you do server administration that needs access to all of the user files and system files in order to store a proper backup.
By the very design of this, as long as there is a need for a globally available user to access everything in the system, there will be ways to exploit and take control of that functionality. Whether they be simple application mishaps or social engineering techniques, there will be ways.
That said, most linux distros have no real sanity checking on installed applications. How do you “trust” that ifconfig is really ifconfig? or firefox is firefox?
How do you verify that your package distribution system is connecting to verified, official package distribution servers for files and updates?
You could make config files look all the way you want but it’s possible to release a modification to a distro that ignores the config file in favor of its own internally coded server.
Before you know it your OS could be updating from a malware-infected aptitude or portage tree.
There are a lot of little issues like this that in time will need to be taken care of.
@ firestorm
I worked at a company that used Fedora Core 5 when I got there, Fedora 7 was the current release. They logged on as root exclusively. I told them countless ways and countless reasons why that’s a bad idea. Not only that, but I actually broke into their systems from the outside. After I told them, they asked me why I was even trying to do that in the first place. The only things that EVER got fixed are the things I did myself. Needless to say, I didn’t cry when I left that job.
@ Fwblean
@ linuxamp
The reason viruses are designed for Windows is not because of its popularity. I’ve written viruses for Windows and Linux. Although it is fairly easy to write programs for each, writing a virus for Linux requires a LOT of skill and still needs the user to knowingly execute it as root. On a Widnows system, it’s fairly easy to write code that utilizes the .NET framework from 1.x versions to execure code as administrator. Not only that, but it’s also possible to write code that momentarily disables/enables scanners if the correct scanner is known.
@ RipperZane
Agreed, personally though – If I bought a Mac, I’d put Linux on it. I can’t imagine a better setup. I absolutely LOVE the Mac hardware as well as my Mac themed Ubuntu. But… that’s just me.
@ Mark
Microsoft would so love to make you think they have a 90% market share, wouldn’t they? Use a little common sense and you’ll see why that’s not even close… Maybe not “common” sense, but think about it for a minute. Are they really dominate anywhere other than the US?
@ Fran
I actually changed a router from Windows to Linux and nearly trippled it’s capacity. I was aslo and to ssh into it and change configuration settings.
@tt
How long did Windows have to get where it’s at without competition? Give Linux the same chance. After all, Linux is dealing with competition now.
Yes, you cannot write to disk in Linux unless you give permission, but that’s where end-user ignorance causes trouble. Give a person a few “free” screen savers to install, and their computer’s as good as yours.
[...] Ningún virus se te colará en el sistema, te borrará archivos ni te dejará el SO inservible. Resultados 100% garantizados: [...]
There is a bit of controversy surrounding viruses and GNU/Linux.
From what I understand, there are only about 500 theoretical viruses for a GNU/Linux system. There are over 60,000 for windows systems. Any anti-virus software for linux (KlamAV, AVG, etc) DO NOT protect against Linux viruses; they protect against WINDOWS viruses. You see, of all the Linux viruses “out there†the majority are purely theoretical–written by college students and enthusiasts. This is not because fewer people use Linux; that’s a fallacy. The fact is that it is extremely difficult to write a Linux virus as UNIX systems run multi-user enviroments (specific permission sets are given to specific processes depending on the user). More than 60% of the internet is made up of Linux servers. Finally, the only reason that Linux Servers ever run anti-virus software is because they interact with windows machines–through samba, for example. They simply do not wish to help spread any viruses.
Now this is not to say that there aren’t a TON of security exploits out there—there are!
I work in IT support. Someone got stuck with a difficult customer and passed him to us in level 2.
Today I had to help someone set up their broadband modem.
This guy was angry because his computer didn’t work, and he had a mac, so the problem had to be at our end, because macs don’t have problems.
He was using USB to connect to his modem, he had his rpevious ISP’s details saved in it, he had the wrong IP address statically assigned somehow (I thought macs detected that shit or something), and he had messed with proxy settings.
When I realised I was going to be talking to him for an hour while he raved about how I was stupid because he had a mac, I told him straight- “Hold on sir, but you’ve obviously bought a computer that you are having difficulty to use and manage. We can’t set up your computer on the phone, I suggest you return it to where you bought it and ask them to fix it up because you have changed too many things in there and it wont work until they are set right.”
He asked if I was calling him an idiot.
I should have just said “No, you aren’t an idiot, but macs aren’t idiot proof either so get it fixed”.
@firestorm
I’ve got to disagree. In ubuntu and OS X I get asked for my admin credentials only when necessary (1% of the time). When helping my co-worker with her Vista laptop she got asked for her admin password 9 times. 4 of those times I don’t understand why vista needed it. And of course in XP I can’t even set my clock without being an admin.
Please get your facts straight.
http://nvd.nist.gov/statistics.cfm
number of ALL vulnerabilities in All categories.
Year 2007
Microsoft Windows Vista 3!
Apple Mac OS X: 105!
Ubantu Linux 3!
hmmmm, Ubantu Linux is supposed to be so much better but it matches Vista in reported vulnerabilities for year 2007.
what no one points out on the “if linux gains market share it will get viruses” argument is this. A virus for XP will most likely work in vista since so much is in common. The chance you could make a virus that will affect more than one distro of linux is slim to none. Yes ubuntu would most likely be the target if one was made but still, each install is different enough, a virus for fedora core wouldn’t work on debian.
I didn’t want a Mac until Windows forced me to buy one. Sure I thought about a free Unix option, but I don’t have time to do the necessary research to figure out which bits of hardware that I own won’t be supported or will require me to personally recompile the sourcecode (or get bogged down in command line hell). In short, I was tired of WASTING TIME MAKING A PC WORK and as much as I admire the work of the O/S community, my time became more important to me than the money I might save going with Linux. I own a Macmini and a new Imac. I also own an Asus eeePC (Xandros Linux) so I am not unaware of the issues. I am also old enough that time is more important to me than it used to be.
Enjoy.
[...] Norton to go to hell and switch to Ubunturead more | digg story Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can [...]
Funny how everyone says there are holes in linux. What about mac? It has holes as well. Come on, 10.5.2 was released MAINLY to fix holes and problems. EVERY OS HAS HOLES. No OS is perfect, if there was a perfect os, then everyone would use it and there would never be new OS created. People have to realize that there is always a security issue on ANY machine. I use osX, XP, and Ubuntu at my work. I have problems with one machine. I bet everyone is either going to say XP or Ubuntu but no, it is osX that crashes and takes forever to start. It is fully updated 10.4.11 and less than 1 year old. Hell my xp machine on my 4 year old pc at home is faster than my mac. What do I have on my mac? Basic X install with firefox and ARD. Nothing else. Do not even give me the answer of 10.5 as there is no excuse for osX to be so poor.
Point is that every system has its issues. It is a computer, NOT a way of life.
[...] Fuente | Internetling [...]
My experience tells me users, save for the few uber-geeks out there, are far more damaging to a linux system than any virus you may pick up.
>Joe B Says:
>
>My experience tells me users, save for the few uber-geeks out there, are far more damaging to a linux system than any virus you may pick up.
Agreed: There is so much you can do wrong so easily. Unless you plan on keeping a stock Linux OS, chances are that you’ll be reinstalling a couple of times due to bad decisions and commands. You need too much knowledge and experience to use Linux – THAT is why it’s not popular, not because of the evil capitalist Microsoft organization. It’s because Linux has yet to become more user-friendly. Even Ubuntu is advanced for 90% of the users out there.
Chances are that most people here saying that “omgz, wtf, linux r teh best system evar!” simply have a lot more time to learn all this stuff than the average user does. Most people I know who install Linux are just messing around, and playing around with it as if it were a toy. No one has seriously considered using it full-time, as it is too much of a pain in that way.
@ Tim Fuller: It is understandable. Buy what you need.
But I can’t see myself buying a mac. Only due to the cost for equivilent hardware. I know I am not the only one.
—>> BUT: I like my system to just work. SO if I could afford better hardware (mac for instance) I would consider it.
@ Spanker: thank you! no one ever points out the flaws with osx. Was it panther that was compared to being as sluggish as vista? (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=62716)
@ konfusion: “No one has seriously considered using it full-time, as it is too much of a pain in that way.”
Not true I use it full time.
But it is true that it isn’t for the timid.
The only point I think is that it is important to use what works for you, not what every one wants to shove on you, and that includes the linux zealots. I use it because it is great for me. May I emphasize the “FOR ME” part.
Mac users love their macs generally because it a great product and they are happy with it.
PC users usually like Windows products due to it meets their needs and/or it runs everything and hardware is almost always compatible (save Vista).
Linux users range quite heavily. There are the Gurus, but I am no guru and can make it work.
Yes I know more than the average, but if you look at any range of users withing the 3 major groups, I am clearly not a guru: I know where to look for results for what I need.
I’m keeping anonymous for various reasons.
There are linux viruses.
Most of what people are dealing with now, are not viruses, they are worms. Different malware completely.
Every OS (even Unix) has some quantity and form or these.
The writers of malware really do spend most of their time attacking the most common OS. They want as many hits as possible. A Mediocre infector in Windows gets more PCs infected than a Fantastic infector in Linux.
More Eyeballs staring vapidly only makes for a shallow sense of security. That doesn’t mean unpaid open source advocates don’t improve things, but lets face it, they do it when they get around to it. (Yes I know how the system works, but I also know how it fails…)
The biggest cause of infection is users. Yes, that’s any fool who touches a computer that thinks they are immune for any reason, be it ignorance or supposed experience. You have no idea how many ‘secure’ computers unconnected to the network are actually infected. (Or how many doctors, lawyers, rocket scientists, admins, etc. have infected computers and didn’t even realize it.) (Those are stories I can’t tell you because of NDA’s, but it would really scare you if you only knew…)
Right now, the biggest defense Linux has from malware is the perception that it is a niche OS without enough machines to make it worth attacking. If it were to supplant Windows, it would be hurting bad within a year.
(If you don’t believe me, then you also think that Macs neither crash nor have viruses. Enjoy your time in LaLaLand…)
linuxamp Says:
March 9th, 2008 at 17:11
You have to wonder though, at some point there were no windows viruses. Viruses and malware in general became so abundant on Windows primarily for several reasons.
1) Windows is the the dominant OS in the market so malware writers write viruses for Windows to infect the largest group.
2) Most new PCs come with Windows so there are many noob Windows owners who don’t know how to secure their PC.
3) Windows has historically left some gaping security holes, most of which are closed in SP2.
So, with the exception of #3, who is to say that Linux won’t have the same problems of #1 and #2 if it were to become the dominant OS? It’s not impossible to write Linux viruses and I’m sure you could get some noob users to install malware on their Linux box if they bought it at Walmart.
[...] Norton to go to hell and switch to Ubunturead more | digg [...]
Well … I don’t get it! I thought this Linux was Turing complete, so why can’t it run the viruses?
kidding
I have a question. A few of these comments have said that people don’t know how to set up their home computer to be secure. Well why on earth should a person have to set up their computer to be secure? Honestly if a computer isn’t completely set up, I won’t buy it.
Go Mac OS X. Go Leopard.
As soon as I have a chance, I’m scrapping my XP partition on my MacBook, and just run Kde, ubuntu, in VmWare. Should be fun. not as much fun as backing everything up though.
@ ripper zane
No it was 10.4.11, so it is tiger.
I love how maccies make fun of the bsod but the mac has the spinning beachball of death!
Viruses on open source will get much more evil since the attacker has complete overview of sources, can contribute to projects small bugs (exploit enablers) or turn useful software into Trojans. The money makers in open source will be security code auditors, application testers etc. and the average user will be the victim since of the greater costs for security this way.
Distros will get more expensive and it could be possible that distribution support companies will get involved with the “dark side” just to push their distro’s price up.
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Virus programs prob use linux to write the virus to bring down big corporations…. why would they attack what they use?
this must have to be the most stupidest topic in the world
Inaccurate… “Best Free Anti-Virus Software”.
when mac os x and linux say that they dont get viruses, that is false. the reason viruses arent common is because unix is built very well and is built with security in mind. it was designed to have many users using it so security was obviously a concern also the fact that is used heavily for servers the uptime is amazing. windows is just horribly programmed, horribly designed but its ease of use took off. like many people have said its the fact that windows has every user basically a mini administrator and that is just as dangerous as being administrator. as soon as people realize how stable unix based OSs are, they will leave windows.
oh and the only problem i see with getting windows users to use linux are the gamers wouldnt switch because linux and mac os x dont have very many games that would appeal to them. all though there are some nice open source games
hey sorry to burst ur bubble idiot but if Linux was as popular as windows you would see spyware, viruses, and instability issues due to the larger amount of variations it would be installed on. Windows only gets a bad rap from moronic computer users who dont understand how things work. As we speak I use IE, All windows products on my main pc and linux on my older pc and to be frank, Ive never had an issue with either. (Btw if you read this and say “My windows pc always crahses” Ur one of the idiots I was refering too)
@RipperZane:
Well, I did say “I don’t know anyone who…” – I don’t know you, so fair enough
I’m sure you could use Linux on a regular basis – I’m just not familiar enough with the commands (and don’t have time to learn them right now), so until I get to Uni I think I’ll stick with what I’m familiar with so I can get my work done.
Be sure to check out the follow-up post:
http://www.internetling.com/2008/03/10/why-would-linux-be-the-best-antivirus-a-follow-up-post/
[...] Retirado daqui. [...]
[...] Par Ulrich · Dans Autres le 11 Mar 2008 Petite image sympathique trouvée ici. [...]
Linux is jsut fine… but what when you want to use all those extra programms, created just for windows?
Very nice post, an image tells a thousand words. I switched over to Ubuntu about a year ago and I just wont go back to Windows because of all the security issues.
@ Poker: “but what when you want to use all those extra programms, created just for windows?”
Good question:I would say it depends. Some games work very well on linux. World of Warcraft plays decently well (hardware mileage may vary) and EVE-Online even has an agreement of some sort with Cedega to help it run on OSX and linux.
Somee steam games play well, and office suites install well natively in WINE (a compatibility layer).
My wife didn’t bring her laptop on a vacation we went on, so she installed her apps on her own login in ubuntu using Crossover Office (commercial package for windows apps) and had the same experience, or so she says. If you are a gamer, I say stick to windows, or mac if the games you want are on there. It all depends.
@ Konfusion:
No worries man. I like ubuntu, but that is me. I feel that using your OS shouldn’t have to be a struggle, and not all of us want to set it up struggling for like 3 days just to get sound to work (past experience), so I can understand. Personally, I think something so simple as checking your email shouldn’t require a doctorate.
btw good comments all.
Given me stuff to think on.
a truer statement about anti-virus, has never been uttered.
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“Foolish user empowered by root access can do more damage to the computer than a virus.
Regards,
Sudheer”
That’s true for EVERY OS.
Actually it is more secure with ubuntu because you are always prompt to a password when you want to do nasty things…that reminds you to be careful.
PS : I dont have the “true root password” on my laptop running ubuntu…it is useless. ‘sudo’ takes care of everything
“hey sorry to burst ur bubble idiot but if Linux was as popular as windows you would see spyware, viruses, and instability issues due to the larger amount of variations it would be installed on.”
I am not sure I agree with that statement. Linux has proven to be more stable and reliable than any MS product.
They are a few ‘rootkits’ out there that are kind of Viruses for Linux. I didnt get any of them yet but I agree that they could be an issue in the end, the ubuntu folks (well the linux folks in general) are already working on fixing that up.
Also note that when I refer to ‘Linux Folks’, it means basically everyone who can read the sourcecode and since it’s opensource…
Heres My view:
I use xp on my home desktop for the last 6 years. I’ve had probably 2 viruses the whole time. NO BSOD or crashes or anything
I use Vista on my laptop for the last 6 months. No crashes or errors what so ever.
I use ubuntu on a different desktop at home and had to spend alot of time getting the video card to work right. And on my laptop the wireless card wasn’t recognized either.
But Its ok! I’ll try again in April (i think) when the new version comes out!
I have a dumb question also. I’m all for open source apps and games, I use them all the time. But to add to the linux virus debate….If all of the source code is floating around why couldn’t a guy create a new version with back doors or something in it and distribute it out?
xD I just had Linux (ubuntu) freeze on me while I was installing it xD
Usually it IS more reliable than that, but I find the irony hilarious.
The reason why there are few virus for Linux is the same reason why Linux never gets anywhere and never will: Linux fanboys call it diversity. Realist people call it mess and chaos.
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I prefer a good anti-virus to any useless Linux distro.
[...] en Cesarius >> Digg >> Internetling Etiquetas: antivirus, gratis, [...]
@Norton:
“
Good question, but due to there being a large community and the source code being viewable by all, the act of a back door would be likely seen. It is not as though you have only one school of thought that has hired many developers to the same task. They are people of diverse walks of like who might not like that there is a back door in the app, which is much harder to come up with a conspiracy of “but what if”.
In basic: due to the code is seen by many, it is harder to say that allot of ppl would say “gee, i like security holes, lets do that
correction! that was meant for “Easy Fellas”
comment for norton is: Oh yeah, cause vista is awesome, and macs NEVER crash *bonk* um denial dos not make reality.
Nobody said Windows or OS X were perfect, of course they’re not. But at least they are stable platforms. Linux is still a fragmented chaos, a nightmare to use and support.
Due to that they are commercial perhaps that is the argument?
Then buy a distro (yes you can do that).
Say, um SuSe or Redhat?
No one said linux is perfect, but saying that they aren’t prone to instability is one sided.
Fragmented chaos? Have you used linux?
Lemme guess, you are a guru, and hate linux.
Or am I being premature?
I am expecting a retort in form of jab…
“Why is the best antivirus of 2008 Ubuntu 6.06? Kind of dated don’t you think?”
Because 6.06 is the latest LTS perhaps?
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http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/does-ubuntu-linux-really-need-antivirus-software/
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Los antivirus no sirven, lo mejor es usar Linux…
Despertando con algo de humor… Una imagen que no requiere mucha explicación… Linux es la respuesta, Ubuntu es el salvador (informático claro)… Los antivirus están muertos ya…
Todos sabemos que Linux es casi invulnerable (por…
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>@firestorm
>I’ve got to disagree. In ubuntu and OS X I get asked >for my admin credentials only when necessary (1% of >the time). When helping my co-worker with her Vista >laptop she got asked for her admin password 9 times. 4 >of those times I don’t understand why vista needed it. >And of course in XP I can’t even set my clock without >being an admin.
I’m not talking about getting asked for root rights or anything. I’m talking about installing an application system wide, and runing server/system applications like BIND in example.
You can assign BIND to another user and put it into a “jail”, but it still requires root priviledges to start runing to open ports, sockets etc.
While the user can install only in /home/user dir the others can’t see this application.
Unless you create a new dir and give group permissions on that dir and also modifiy users $PATH to be able to run applications out of there as well.
But if you want to put the new application in menus then you need root priviledges to do so, unless if you again change permission on that directory for a group to be able to write into that group.
Forgot, and allowing a group of users to start writing on system directories is not that wise of a move, specialy on a publicly private computers, like a company, library or any other institution.
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1. microsoft is not plagued with a million Microsoft Virus/
Trojans/Malware/adware/exploits because it is widely distributed, but, because there are so many thousands of back doors, code errors, and abysmal built-in weaknesses.
2. Microsoft executives have deposed in testimony, and filed SEC quarterly reports, stating that Linux is on 25% of all Internet users systems, with a growth rate of up to 5% per annum. Linux is their greatest competitor since 1998.
3. Because millions of corporate sponsored and independent programmers supervise the open source code of Linux and all Free Open Source Software, bugs are found, and fixed, in hours, or sometimes, rarely, days.
4. the majority of issues for new users are due to learning problems for which there are hundreds of free forums, 700+ LUGs, and the MAN.
5. The only folks who are promoting Microsoft’s bloated crapware are the lazy and unskilled or the snake oil sales people who profit at user’s expense!
[...] Visto em Interling [...]
@FOSS tutor:
Linux may be on many systems – indeed, I even have it installed – but I doubt it is used as a primary OS on all those systems. Many nerds such as I, who like to experiment with new things occasionally, keep it as a second OS, so they can mess around.
With both Windows and Linux, it is the user that is at fault if something goes wrong. In Windows, if you don’t know how to use a computer, you are 100 times more likely to get a virus. Linux, on the other hand, messes up if a user doesn’t know how to install something properly, or tries to customize it.
With both it is the USER not the OS.
@#5: Windows is simply THAT much more user-friendly. Even Ubuntu is complicated for the average computer user. Keep in mind that we are a minority. For one thing, we all either have this site bookmarked or found it on digg, which means we’re more into technology than the average user. For another, we actually know what Linux is – the vast majority of computer users don’t.
When Linux becomes as easy to use as Windows, then you can talk about the “evil” monopolistic ways of Microsoft – but until then, at least acknowledge that there’s a reason why they have the most market share: Their system works for a huge range of people, most of which do not have the time or patience to figure out how Linux works.
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ubuntu rules !!
Instead of having ant-virus, why doesn’t microsoft just spend tons of time and money REBUILDING windows from scratch, and make it just as secure as macs and much easier to use
P.S I own a mac, once you go mac, you never go back
@jordan:
Macs have security holes too – none of which anyone can really be bothered to exploit.
Oh, and you have the spinning wheel of doom
No OS is perfect. Not even Linux.
[...] Although it is possible to get infected even with Linux (malware is mainly written for Windows), its system architecture, based on a server-client relationship makes it difficult for a virus to do any damage. See this post. [...]
@linuxamp:
Good points, but I remember the Windows viruses before most PCs were on the internet – they generally spread by writing to floppy disks; even finding network shares was relatively complex in those days
The problem wasn’t user focus on security – nobody should need to be a security expert just to use a computer safely. The problem was that it had simply not occurred to anyone that it could be a problem. Many of the early viruses were just pranks, so – hey, does it really matter? In truth, controlling access (from within the OS kernel) to removable media would have made a big difference – more than putting locks on floppy disk drives, and all the other silly things we did, but hindsight 20/20 – it wasn’t so clear at the time.
Then MS “discovered” the internet, too late, so the priority was just to get the stuff working and out of the door: Get an IP stack, get a browser, get the “Ship-It! Award” for getting it on the shelves.
The philosophy is different for Linux systems; Marketing departments don’t have the same power over technical decisions. Sure, one company can push badly-engineered software onto the market, but they can’t force it on the rest of the community. The major projects – Linux, Apache, GNOME, KDE, MySQL, OOo, and so on, will not accept code based on one firm’s ideology. Microsoft engineers had to push in whatever code was deemed most suitable by those least qualified to make that call.
Of course, there are Linux distros which are more interested in marketing than in engineering, but that’s okay – there’s enough room for everyone to play. At the end of the day, it’s a meritocracy: for a patch to get in to the mainstream, it needs to have solid engineering reasons for its existence, not marketing reasons for getting rid of the competition.
@jordan: “Instead of having ant-virus, why doesn’t microsoft just spend tons of time and money REBUILDING windows from scratch, and make it just as secure as macs and much easier to use”
They did. They came up with Vista. Enough said?
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w00t! Ubuntu Rox!
So yeah, I’m a Linux nerd. But I like it when my computer just works.
[...] read more | digg story [...]
Ubuntu is awesome. I love it. Like a previous poster said, I’m no Linux guru, but I’m pretty good with it. Oh and by the way, if Linux manages to get viruses, it would only be because all the Linux developers died. I mean, how many Linux viruses can even run on the 2.6 kernel?
All in all, Linux has just too many paranoid people to let anything slip by. And since Ubuntu is the most popular distro… well, you do the math.
I love how windows users always say that Linux hasn’t been targeted yet. While it is true that Linux has a very small share of the desktop market, it does much better in the server market. Ever heard of CentOS? That’s a free linux operating system that powers thousands upon thousands of web servers. If you think Linux operating systems aren’t targeted, guess again!
Fact is, Linux operating systems like Ubuntu are immune to viruses because of the way they are built.
For those of you saying Vista is good…
I sure like how slow Vista works… xD – My age old laptop with Debian (and XP) is way faster than my mums new laptop (c.a. 8 times as fast in hardware terms…) with Vista.
The security in Vista is better than in XP, but the UAC is still useless, the average user will just click the OK button on being asked if a program should run with admin priveleges, with various linux distros it is standard that users are asked to provide a password, making them think about what they’re doing. For Linux software is generally built in a more thought-out fashion, not needing root rights apart from for installing, and therefore during normal use (of Linux) I never have any requests for Admin rights, unlike Vista…
Vista is really dead, many people I know (who do not have any clue about computers), complain about how the various MS os’s are so bad (A lot of people really hate the changes in Vista’s interface – where’s this user friendliness?).
Without Linux, we also wouldn’t have the internet… Think of the majority of web servers, think of Google (Google uses thousands of Machines running Linux for various taks, not only the search engine side of things)…
I have used Windows for most of my life, and have hated every minute of use… With Linux I have had exactly 0 problems, with windows thousands.
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People think that because Windows has thousands of viruses and Linux has fewer, that this adds up to something. The virses you tend to catch in Windows are drivel. For all the talk about “freedom”, I’d still feel no safer on Linux against a malicious government sponsored cracker.
In a Linux world, where viruses were rare, then each one’s impact would be meaner and nastier. It’s basic human psychology.
Thanks alot for the info!
Very much so
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A few people have said that the only reason Linux has few security issues is because it shares so little of the market share (i.e., because Windows is so much more popular). I believe this thinking is flawed, though shared by most people who are slaves to the ‘market’. The real reason Linux has so few issues is that it is free. The open source philosophy shared by most Linux users removes the profit motive that leads to security issues.
This is not to say that it is unprofitable for a hacker to write malicious code for Linux, but that it is unprofitable for a Linux distributor to ALLOW malicious code to be written to your machine. That’s right, Microsoft could easily close several security loopholes that allow malware to be written to the registry; they simply choose not to. And why should they? Since all the idiots who are slaves to the ‘market’ are still rushing to pay hundreds of dollars for their software? And I wonder how many companies that write adware, spyware, and other malware are actually controlled by Microsoft?
Linux, on the other hand, since it is available free of charge and can be modified as the user sees fit, can never be controlled by a for profit corporation and so will always be able to meet the user’s security needs.
egosintrick:
Keep in mind the big debian flaw a while back regarding “free” and “open source” software. For about 2-3 years straight, all Debian-based distributions including Debian, Ubuntu, and Kubuntu were generating private certificate keys that could be easily duplicated.
You might not think this is a big deal until you realize that SSL keys are pretty much the lifeblood of nearly all security on the internet.
Oh, and simply “patching” isn’t enough–but regenerating your certificates was required.
The reason that Linux does not have a virus problem is that it was designed as a multi user platform, Windows was designed as a single user platform and tried to make itself into a multi user platform.
Windows gets infected by virus’s because it is plain insecure, they tried to fix the problem in Vista but Vista is a problem, hence MS extended the life of XP because of the problems Vista have.
Linux is safe because it was designed that way, as for the command line, I have used Linux for four years now and have used the command line only when I want to. All things can be done via the GUI just like Windows.
As far as I am concerned, anyone using Windows and claims Linux is not user friendly, has no knowledge of the newest Linux distributions out there.
and to Mike, I will take a debian flaw before I ever put that pile of crap software on a computer called MS Vista. It lasted on my laptop half an hour, talk about security problems, take a look at vista.
Hey ima kid whos pretty good with computers but im kinda nieave but um yea i myself own a G4 Mac power pc OS X 1.1.5 (need to update lawl) and a Dell D600 with XP SP2 and my Dell is like effed because me and my happy go lucky hope i can crack fruity loops got malware on it and now i have to wipe my whole drive and re image i was thinking about getting linux ubuntu and was hoping some one could give me a site to help me with linux because i need to break away from windows now
Vista= Peice of shit
XP= Good, but prone to viruses
Mac= Great, but so expensive
Linux= Lets see what she can do
Mad Lymon Enterprises
” We squeeszin back”
Hey yo not meaning to duble post or anything but i was wondering i have malware on my cpu and if i dual boot and get linux ubuntu will that malware affect me over on the Linux side because i dont feel like wiping drive and re imaging
if you could be so kindly to help me out email me at
plasmus22@yahoo.com
Oh yea if anybody could give me tuts on how to
Work with mac, and linux that’d be great
“Time to get away from the Windows and get outside”
interesting read
more and more people are converting to linux…
Truth About Abs
Keith Maven
Truth About Abs Editor
Well, I have been running Mepis Linux on a desktop for about a year, and got Vista sp1 on a new laptop a few months ago.
I installed Mepis as a dual-boot on the laptop, and in the process re-installed Vista.
Vista: long, long install with several reboots. It did the plug-and-play thing correctly (good thing, as the hardware it was on was sold with it.)
Mepis: Short and fast install. As with Vista it recognized all hardware without problems, no reboots.
Vista downloads Windows updates weekly, or at least when I choose to let it go online. I had sp1, so I avoided the problems some people had with upgrading to that. We will see about sp2 when it happens. Of course the Linux distro has not tried to download patches; I can always choose to check for a new distro if I want to.
Windows installed with a bunch of trialware, which I deleted. Now Vista boots almost as fast as Linux.
But the main thing is, Microsoft is already talking about “Windows 7″ and how it will correct some of the user complaints about Vista. Face it: commercial OS are never-ending version machines geared to separate users from their money. Get off the Windows merry-go-round, otherwise you will find that your software goes obsolete before your hardware does. Forcing users to keep up with new versions is where Microsoft makes its fortune.
When you have to buy new hardware it makes sense to take whatever OS is provided with it — it is, in essence, freeware for that machine. But install a dual-boot with Linux immediately, and learn to use Linux for core tasks, whether for you that means word-processing, web work, database, graphics, or whatever. Your Windows distro will die sooner rather than later, because MS writes applications which assume a 3- or 4-year cycle of obsolescence. Learn to use apps that won’t die next year.
And for God’s sake use a well-protected Linux browser to surf the Web. The malware / virus situation is only going to get worse.
There are a few posts out here that claim that once GNU/Linux becomes more successful in penetrating the average ‘Desktop’ it is likely to be attacked more. Yes it is possible. Only when rogue repositories become available and you unwittingly or willingly download packages from these rogue repos. Since using your package manager in any GNU/Linux distro requires admin/superuser privileges. But since GNU/Linux distro’s provide most of the software required to use it out of the box there is less requirement for downloading and installing software. But it should be understood clearly that no OS can be 100% secure. Ensuring the OS’s security is the users responsibility. What this means is that computer users should learn as much as they can about their computers and the computing environment so that they can take action to prevent these scenarios.
servers are the top for viruses and hacks. beyond end users. And linux is FAR Large part of worldwide servers for many years and growing astoundingly even faster. Yet stay rock solid as ie servers do not.
even apache written first formost on linux server was put to a test when a man open a server in 1982 and offered 1 million dallors on site it hosted if anyone could bring it down by hacking. 10 years past and Not one of us..some spending over 50 thousand in hardcore hacking terminals and equipment and man hours to break. Never done. last note. microsoft servers and inner database still hackable on a daily bases. and before you make comment on linux level of security. You should read deeper because linux is open source and you can educate your self on why its virtually and moving to the unhackable and virusable operating system.
Best Regards
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[...] El mejor antivirus de 2008 www.internetling.com/2008/03/09/anti-virus-software-is-dead-… por bedingfieldo hace pocos segundos [...]
[...] Anti-virus software is dead – use Linux [...]
Linux rocks… I switched to openSUSE when my computer got a nasty Windows virus. I totally do NOT miss Windows XP! Linux machines run faster and more smoothly than do Windows machines, they make better use of system resources, and while they may take a while to set everything up initially, they end up functioning 100x better later. I’ll admit, it took me a while to learn to use it, since most of the commands are different from DOS commands. Now, however, I find it just as easy–if not easier–than using Windows. I’d recommend this to anyone.
“How bout we all run DOS instead, almost as useful as linux. if not better than it”
Dumbest quote of ’08.
You want to know the real reason why commercial OSes are virus-friendly?
Customers=Enemy.
ProtectionCode=VirusCode.
Linux only just begins.
Slight correction, so every1 understands:
Linux >world domination;P
[...] Internetling: The best antivirus of 2008. [...]
lol
[...] 4 Anti-virus software is dead – use Linux [...]
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[...] 11. Välj ett säkrare operativsystem Vill du slippa istort sett alla virus sÃ¥ välj att köra Linux istället. De flesta som använder Linux anser att det inte behövs nÃ¥got antivirusprogram eftersom det knappt finns virus för Linux. Antivirus software is dead – use Linux [...]
True, true. Anyway, Ubuntu rulez.
One thing I do have to say is that all operating systems do have their bug and what not. I’ve been using Ubuntu for the almost the last year or so, and I feel that it is a great solution to doing your everyday stuff with it.
The reason Macs are gaining in popularity is because you are getting a package deal with them. Take the time to do a little research out there. Macs basically throw the whole cost of have a computer up front, and that scars off a bunch of people but it all in perspective. With widows you think you are getting a great deal up front, but then you have to buy this and that to be productive and secure. I think that is BS. With Linux you have little or no cost to run the system. It supports most hardware in use, and is great to use plain and simple.
I will admit that each has it’s pros and cons, but think about it. Most people are afraid to do something different because of what they see in marketing material. Everyone think that Windows is sooo good until they have an issue then they blame the manufacture on the comp when it’s all in the software.
I didn’t even know about Linux until my ex’s brother in-law said to try it. I’ll admit I was way iffy about it, and well I made the jump, and made my desktop a dual boot setup. Yeah I know the Linux geeks are going “eeeek”, but I still need windows for a few thing that I do.
Sorry I got away from the point for a sec. I run an anti-virus just because of the nature on the beast, but I also have to worry about the other 4 windows boxes I have at my home. Slowly and patiently introducing them into Linux. I’m glad I do run something because I caught a few things that even AVG for windows didn’t pick up. If you are thinking of introducing someone into Linux don’t get all crazy on them get them going off a Live CD, and show them how well it works even when running from a CD. Be patient, and treat them like a confident person, and could use a little help.
I use Linux 24/7 on all of my computers and NONE of my computers dual boot windows or osX. From pure experience I am more accustomed to Linux than most people are with windows. When i had tried using windows it was a very painful experience… it was like CULTURE SHOCK. Linux is NOT meant to be a clone of windows or OSX, it has its own abilities. I find there is no OS more customizable than Linux and no os more easy to install and maintain a web-server on (in ubuntu you can run [sudo tasksel install lamp-server] and then simply place your webpage in /var/www) or many other things. When linux does crash due to the way the system works you can simply kill the display and reopen it instead of rebooting because Linux runs 7 or so physical terminals (accessible from CTRL+ALT+F1 to CTRL+ALT+F12). Because of everything running independently you can be running a server and the clients wont notice any downtime while you fsck up other applications were as in windows a single crash usually has a domino effect bringing down everything else then even the whole system.
[...] em uma relação cliente-servidor faz com que seja difícil para um vírus fazer qualquer dano. Veja este post. 2. Linux é rápido e vai ficar mais [...]
Everyone looks pretty well knowledgeable here so here goes… I started out with a mac running os 7.5 but due to the price of the hardware I got sucked into the windows world starting with the 98 version. Even
though I managed to tweak it to get it to get it to due what I wanted it to do, newer versions and advancement in peripheral requirements (mainly the usb upgrades) forced me to update to xp (which I hate). With 5 other people in the house all using the same computer you can only imagine the crap I get downloaded into this box. I run virus scans, defrags, anti spyware and have to reset stuff weekly. For my own use I’ve been looking into getting a netbook running Ubuntu. I use my box mostly for searching, research, and web based apps like googles docs and blogs. Plus I use my usb ports quit a bit for file transfers. The netbooks on Dell that run Ubuntu are listed as “companion Pcs” or something like that. Using wifi as a connection to the internet. Will such a netbook fulfill my needs with what I have listed above if I change my current XP system over to a wireless router type internet connection?
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