On Mon, 2003-10-20 at 18:54, HaywireMac wrote: > On 20 Oct 2003 21:41:10 -0400 > Cy Kurtz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> uttered: > > > no no no wait a minute! > > > > What happens when Linux becomes as popular as windows? Most people > > writing virii are aiming at windows boxen, because they are more > > numerous. People writing virii want to do as much damage as possible, > > so they are going to go after the most popular OS. > > That is a myth, thoroughly debunked many many many times. > > People write exploits for Windows machines because it is *easy*, not > because they are numerous. > > Here's the original article, I hope this will lay this bunch of hooey to > rest once and for all: > > http://securityfocus.com/columnists/188 > > Quote: > > "We've all heard it many times when a new Microsoft virus comes out. In > fact, I've heard it a couple of times this week already. Someone on a > mailing list or discussion forum complains about the latest in a long > line of Microsoft email viruses or worms and recommends others consider > Mac OS X or Linux as a somewhat safer computing platform. In response, > another person named, oh, let's call him "Bill," says, basically, "How > ridiculous! The only reason Microsoft software is the target of so many > viruses is because it is so widely used! Why, if Linux or Mac OS X was > as popular as Windows, there would be just as many viruses written for > those platforms!" > > Of course, it's not just "regular folks" on mailing lists who share this > opinion. Businesspeople have expressed similar attitudes ... including > ones who work for anti-virus companies. Jack Clarke, European product > manager at McAfee, said, "So we will be seeing more Linux viruses as the > OS becomes more common and popular." > > Mr. Clarke is wrong."
If the popularity idea was right then why don't you see more iTron Virii? I mean it is installed about 10-1 over M$ and it is networked. Sides it's got to be a lot more "fun" to take over a factory, power station or nuclear power plant than some poor schmo's "innernet box". The real reason windows gets hacked more is simple. It's easy to create "kits" for virus writing, hacking etc. The majority of internet based problems stem around 4 things. 1. The promise of "You don't need to think" If you say that they won't/don't. 2. To much automatic. 100% of the virii of late are running via an automatic "feature" in windows. It's a trade off ease of use vs. exploit prevention. 3. The script kiddie mentality. I am a progamm... er pragro...er programb er ... I write code. 4. A system (the net) that was designed when peer pressure was sufficient to prevent problems. Linux can be easily exploited. Don't believe me. Grab the old wu-ftpd anon ftp rpms install them get a cup of coffee and come back.. You will be root-kitted. However distro's like MDK dropping such huge holes helps a lot here. Linux's weak point. Legacy apps designed for high trust low protection (anon ftp, R-tools) that shouldn't be used anymore. Of course, don't forget the lose nut between the keyboard and the chair. Some estimates have it as high as 70% of all passwords are curse words, family member or pet names, or written on a post-it note on their desk. Social engineering is just as viable in Unix as it is in Winders. James
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