Linux infection proves Windows malware monopoly is over

[Christopher Chan]

On Thursday, June 17, 2010 01:39 AM, Edward Craig wrote:
> I've always held the opinion that no distribution lacking at least 20%
> marketshare needs worry about malware. It has worked for me since I
> opted to bypass upgrading to Windows 95. Maybe I'm missing something
> vital by my oblivion to the viruses, adware and such. I suspect it's
> opportunity to buy Symatec or the like.

Any distribution that runs a service on the Internet needs to worry 
about malware. What do you think are the preferred platforms for the 
command centres of botnets? You are also forgetting the fact that 
certain software are present on all distributions like sendmail and BIND 
which make them targets regardless of their distribution and in fact 
regardless of whether they installed on a Linux distro or a UNIX box 
running HP-UNIX, AIX, or Solaris or a BSD system.

For desktop purposes, it becomes a completely different ball game. 
Besides the software connecting to the Internet, the bugs/security holes 
in libraries now enter the fray in a much bigger way. Again, the 
distribution itself is no longer important because more often than not, 
the libraries are the same across the board. Even the software might 
enjoy the same status as the libraries. Eg. firefox.

I don't know why you would think malware for Linux will be distribution 
specific when so much stuff is shared across the board.


>
>> On Jun 16, 2010 7:22 AM, "Chan Chung Hang Christopher"
>> <christopher.chan at bradbury.edu.hk
>> <mailto:christopher.chan at bradbury.edu.hk>> wrote:
>>
>> Basil Chupin wrote:
>> > On 15/06/10 20:22, Chan Chung Hang Christopher wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> I am not sure...
>>
>> Well, with the reports of remote root exploits of sendmail and BIND
>> hitting zero lately, I guess I have a good chance of hosts with a
>> certain range of services making my statement stand.
>>
>> But, of course, being able to drop something in the hope of it being run
>> as root does count I guess. I wonder what the current state of affairs
>> with regards to buffer overruns and the like...
>>
>>
>> >
>> >
>> >>>> DJB
>> >>>>
>> >>> Who is DJB?
>> >>>
>> >> Dan J. Berstein.
>> >>
>> >
>> > Who is Dan J....
>>
>> A very busy and maybe boring person?
>>
>>
>>
>> >
>> >>>> ran a class not too long ago where his students concentrating on
>> >>>> find security hol...
>>
>> /me shrugs. I am sure someone will come out with references to the
>> contrary if I made a wrong assertion.
>>
>> Feel free to prove me wrong old chap.
>>
>>
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