two questions: are there viruses that attack linux? are there free anti-virus programs for linux?

[Gato Moteado]

i'm running ubuntu linux and the general feeling was that there are no viruses that effect linux systems. i'm not sure i believe this.

does anyone know if this is true?

also, if there are viruses for linux, are there free anti-virus tools for linux that are good?

thanks.

[Seldona]

1. Ubuntu is a 'closed' system.

Meaning you have to give permission for 'packages' to be installed on your machine from repositories you control access to with a package manager. Stay away from, or do some digging before using, third party repositories to be sure.

Read up on the four Ubuntu software channels for each architecture - Main, Restricted, Universe and Multiverse.

Things like Real Player, Java, a Flash player, and Open Office, are a must imo. I do turn those repositories off after installing and just periodically manually check for updates by turning them back on, but you could just leave them on.

They may even include the Java module, or others mentioned or not, with install now. Been awhile since I have done a clean install, on Ubuntu anyway. Don't quote me on that though.

Personally I was able to get a very large portion of my configuration through .edu and major corporate repositories. Those are safe in my experience. So far.

Only machine I have never had hacked, so far, is my Ubuntu box. And it does everything I can do on Windows very well except game, which I don't really do anymore so it isn't an issue. I do duel boot XP just in case I run into something funky, but that is more paranoia than anything else.

Edited to add there is anti-virus software, but the majority of home uses don't need it unless you duel boot, etc. If you want to install it here is the link for the instructions to install F-Prot with GTK frontend. May not be current, but it will get you started. Check versions and dependencies as well.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=88357

Cheers!

[hobbit709]

2. ANY computer that connects to the outside world is vulnerable.

It's just that the people that write viruses get their jollies from the mass panic they cause. If Linux and Mac machines were a much bigger market share compared to MS boxes, these people would write viruses and malware to attack them too. To think that either Linux or Mac OS's are invulnerable is dangerous thinking. I've seen it done by good programmers, luckily they have ethics. They wrote malicious code to test out on their own machines just to see if it could be done. Most hackers are "script kiddies" and that's what saves the other OS variations.

All anyone can do is take reasonable precautions, back up their data and hope for the best. I personally keep image copies of all my systems on DVD. I have 8 computers that I use for one purpose or another with 3 forms of Windows and 3 different distros of Linux. Each system can be completely restored in a half hour or less from an image. My data is backed up on at least 3 different locations. I learned that lesson the first time I got "the click of death" on one of my hard drives. After 3 days of reinstalling the system, configuring it, adding all the applications and then recreating about 85% of my lost data; I figured that there had to be an easier way.