Who?

G�rard Perreault
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

On Tuesday 05 February 2002 23:54, David Rankin wrote:
> What about the guy that needed help communicating with the PCAnywhere host?
> 
> Gerard Perreault wrote:
> 
> > Considering that there is more and more use of free-ware in Linux, and 
that
> > many of those free-ware utilities are installed by non root users (ie. 
games
> > or neat programs), there is some potential for a Trojan horse attack,
> > particularly if the source code is not available to the Linux community or
> > the software is in beta version (which may not have gone through much
> > supervison yet).
> >
> > The fact that the Trojan horse is still limited by the kernel restrictions
> > (assuming it's not within a device driver), does not give me much comfort.
> > Even if I do backups regularly, the thought of having to restore my home
> > directory is not appealing at all. Specially if I had to restore those of
> > many users.
> >
> > The main advantage of Unix based systems (like Linux), is that at least 
they
> > have security, they take advantages of CPU capabilities to protect the 
OS. It
> > is not like other systems which welcome viruses with open harms. At least
> > Linux has locks on the door, but if you let them in, it's a new ball game.
> >
> > On Tuesday 05 February 2002 22:07, Terry Mathews wrote:
> > > For a virus to damage more than the current user's files, it would need
> > > root access. For that, it would have to have some sort of ability to 
"root"
> > > the system, usually overflowing a port. The problem is that a virus that
> > > could root several different UNIXes running different versions of 
services
> > > would have to have many different hacks in it and would be very large in
> > > size, and just the size alone would alert people to the fact it's a 
virus.
> > >
> > > Viruses get by on x86 systems because of common exploitable problems. A
> > > 10-15MB virus would be much, much easier to detect.
> > >
> > > > > Well, I don't know if I'd go that far. They aren't common, but linux
> > > > > or any unix (or any OS really) can have a virus/worm written for it.
> > > >
> > > > A worm is not a virus. I think there's only 1 true virus written for
> > > > Unix, and it was more of a "proof of concept, IIRC.
> >
> > --
> > Gerard Perreault
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> >   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft?
> > Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
> 
> --
> David C. Rankin, J.D., P.E.
> RANKIN * BERTIN, PLLC
> 1329 N. University, Suite D4
> Nacogdoches, Texas 75961
> (936) 715-9333
> (936) 715-9339 fax
> 
> 
> 
> 

-- 
G�rard Perreault
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

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