Ubuntu security - spyware, viruses, cache cleaning, etc.

[Paul McNett]

Marc wrote:
> As a soon-to-be former Windoze user i tried to be strict on security,
> such as installing anti-spyware, anti-virus and cache, history,
> Interent, Windoze cleaning progs. Are any of these types of progs
> needed for Ubuntu (Linux)?

I am a custom software application developer with most of my client base 
using various versions of Microsoft Windows, but I also have a few 
people using my apps on Linux and Mac OS X.

All I can say is that the Windows people are constantly having to patch 
this or that, upgrade this anti-spyware, add this other because the 
first didn't cut it, and they still manage to get infected even though 
they've followed all the supposed best-practices. This comment applies 
to single-user systems as well as corporate networks with full-time IT 
departments. *So* much time and money is invested just to keep Windows 
running smoothly and avoiding the latest malware threat.

Contrast that with the Mac/Linux people, who don't tend to have any 
antivirus/antispyware software running, and have never had an issue that 
I know about. To some extent, Windows is unfairly targeted because it 
has the most users, but there have been many threats against open source 
software and in my experience the security holes get plugged much faster 
in the open world versus the closed world.

I've been running Linux as my personal and professional desktop since 
about 2002, and have had no issues even though I've not installed any 
antivirus software. I have a Mac and a Windows machine on my network 
too, and the Mac has never suffered but the Windows one which I hardly 
ever use seems to require constant attention anyway.


> I am using Firefox and i know it has the Clear All feature in the
> Preferences. But is it enough? Or is it?

Clear All is a great feature, especially when you know your wife is 
coming and might see the websites you've been visiting. :)  Otherwise, 
clearing the cache and cookies and stuff doesn't really do anything to 
protect your computer from malware - those are just files sitting there 
unable to do anything on their own.


> Any help/advice is greatly appreciated. And remember i am still an
> Ubuntu newbie.

Go with the flow. Stick with the stable release of Ubuntu (Hoary 
currently). Upgrade to Breezy when it becomes the new stable release in 
October. Keep it updated. Relax a little: Linux isn't unbreakable but is 
nowhere near as fragile as Microsoft Windows. Start to learn how to be 
in control of your computer - a quality that Linux gives you but that 
Microsoft took away without you even noticing.

Open up a terminal now and then, and experiment with writing scripts to 
get common things accomplished (tuning in to your favorite radio 
station, backing up a directory, launching an app with your preferences, 
etc.) Type 'python' and discover a great scripting language, or if 
nothing else a powerful desktop calculator.

I envy you: you are entering the Linux experience at a time when most 
GUI/user application issues have been figured out, and on top of that 
you've chosen the best distro around. You'll have a much less 
frustrating time with it than people had only a couple years ago.

The best thing about the open source world is that everyone can be 
involved at a level comfortable to them. Don't know how to program? 
Fine: write up a HOWTO or help edit a wiki somewhere. Don't just 
consume: contribute back and keep the ball rolling. Appreciate the 
quality of the software you come to rely upon. And have fun!

-- 
Paul McNett
http://paulmcnett.com
http://dabodev.com