On Fri, 16 Jan 2004, Exibar wrote: > yes, Mcafee has one, I'm sure there are others as well.
Really?? I'm amazed. Do you have a URL? I don't know anyone who runs A/V software on Linux unless it's to scan for Windows viruses. > Always a smart thing to do, but it's basically the same as not allowing > users to be local admin of their windows box. Except that running as non-root on Linux isn't quite as constraining as not having admin privileges on a Windows box. > Joe users off the street > isn't going to run the Linux install like that though, they'll want to run > as root because it's their box and they want to be God on it. Well, I hope Joe User won't run as root more than necessary, but you're right; education is required. The modern Linux distros are pretty good about forcing you to create a non-root account and recommending that you use it. [...] > In stiving for 100% you'll reach a point around 98% secure that you can > no longer use the computer because the restrictions are too tight. A 98%-secure Linux box is a lot less restrictive than a 98%-secure Windows box, because Linux has fewer design flaws that need working around. > You just > have to accept that risk, such as you are accepting that risk when you don't > run A/V software. Not running A/V software on a Linux box is no risk at all. Even the McAffee A/V software wouldn't detect a worm in time to do any good. You can take the following simple precautions (which I do): Mount /tmp noexec, and if you're really paranoid, mount /home noexec also. That pretty much kills any propagation vector for viruses. Regards, David. _______________________________________________ Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. Charter: http://lists.netsys.com/full-disclosure-charter.html
