Linux and viruses

[chris667]

I'm sure I read something about the fact Linux being open source meant that any code that you downloaded came as source code which you could inspect before compiling and installing. That does not really seem to be the case any more. Every now and then with Ubuntu, I get a message recommending I install the latest update, which I do on trust. I don't seem to have to build and install any source code first. OTOH, Linux doesn't seem to just download and install any other unsolicited software.

The GPL means source code has to be made available; it doesn't mean you can't download things that have been compiled. It's enough that you can do that if you want.

But then it's almost as true of Windows: tech-savvy people don't get viruses on Windows machines either.

Ben, that statement is spectacularly arrogant as well as being nonsense. Anyone can be tricked, or make mistakes.

 

[Scoosh]

What?

Software people should stand well back from real languages. Only Latin words ending in -ius had a plural -ii. So even if this was a second declension masculine noun (which it isn't), the plural would be 'viri'.
In fact:-
- it's a neuter noun, so the theoretical plural would have been 'vira' or possibly 'virora'.
- it never had a plural in Latin. They used 'infection' as a collective word and would say 'different infection' just as we would say 'different weather' rather than 'different weathers'.

Dropping 'arboreta' or 'hippopotami' into the conversation is one thing: pedantic, but correct. 'Virii', however, tries to show erudition but actually demonstrates ignorance. It's a nasty Californian pretension, 2Loose, don't do it.

The English plural of virus is viruses.

Off OP but -
Please, please, what is the correct plural of 'audax' ? Is it audices ?

 

[CopperBrompton]

Originally Posted by Ben Lovejoy But then it's almost as true of Windows: tech-savvy people don't get viruses on Windows machines either.

Ben, that statement is spectacularly arrogant as well as being nonsense. Anyone can be tricked, or make mistakes.

If you want to be pedantic: tech-savvy Windows users almost never get viruses.

I have used Win95, Win98, Win2000, NT, XP and now Win7 (I skipped Vista), and have never, ever had a virus on any machine in any of those versions.

 

[Coco]

If you want to be pedantic: tech-savvy Windows users almost never get viruses.

.

If you want to be really pedantic, tech-savvy Windows users usually do get viruses. Their computers however...

 

[CopperBrompton]

Hehe

 

[Dan B]

There are virii that infect Linux where the machines have not been updated or configure properly

Erm, name three?

There are exploits for old versions of just about everything that runs on a Linux box, but I haven't yet heard of anything that self-replicates as viruses do

 

[2Loose]

Erm, name three?

There are exploits for old versions of just about everything that runs on a Linux box, but I haven't yet heard of anything that self-replicates as viruses do

Take a read...and don't weep because you are unlikely to get any of them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_malware#Viruses_and_trojan_horses

 

[Yellow Fang]

But then it's almost as true of Windows: tech-savvy people don't get viruses on Windows machines either.

Got to agree with Chris on this one. I dare say I'm reasonably tech-savvy, having worked as a computer programmer for 18 years, with an HND in Software Engineering and a BSc in Technology. I was more into embedded code and I never became very expert in IT support, as we usually had an IT department for that sort of thing. At home I still got the odd trojan or spyware, at least according to virus checker. Personally, I found the virus checkers almost as big a pain in the arse as the malware; however the thing that killed my PC last time, I think, was one last unwanted update of Windows XP.

Anyway, next question, is there something in Linux that makes it impossible for software to download itself on your PC without your permission? The only Linux distro that I've used so far which asks you to update it, from time to time, is Ubuntu. Crunchbang, ZenWalk and any of the others I've tried haven't even done that. Nothing ever seems to have downloaded itself on my home computers without me knowing it, but then how would I know?

 

[Yellow Fang]

What?

Software people should stand well back from real languages. Only Latin words ending in -ius had a plural -ii. So even if this was a second declension masculine noun (which it isn't), the plural would be 'viri'.
In fact:-
- it's a neuter noun, so the theoretical plural would have been 'vira' or possibly 'virora'.
- it never had a plural in Latin. They used 'infection' as a collective word and would say 'different infection' just as we would say 'different weather' rather than 'different weathers'.

Dropping 'arboreta' or 'hippopotami' into the conversation is one thing: pedantic, but correct. 'Virii', however, tries to show erudition but actually demonstrates ignorance. It's a nasty Californian pretension, 2Loose, don't do it.

The English plural of virus is viruses.

Does "Romanes eunt domus" mean anything to you?

 

[lazyfatgit]

What?

Software people should stand well back from real languages. Only Latin words ending in -ius had a plural -ii. So even if this was a second declension masculine noun (which it isn't), the plural would be 'viri'.
In fact:-
- it's a neuter noun, so the theoretical plural would have been 'vira' or possibly 'virora'.
- it never had a plural in Latin. They used 'infection' as a collective word and would say 'different infection' just as we would say 'different weather' rather than 'different weathers'.

Dropping 'arboreta' or 'hippopotami' into the conversation is one thing: pedantic, but correct. 'Virii', however, tries to show erudition but actually demonstrates ignorance. It's a nasty Californian pretension, 2Loose, don't do it.

The English plural of virus is viruses.

I find the posts on language and grammar on here interesting, but i see even you refer to Latin in the past tense?

 

[amnesia]

TOTALLY off topic, but...

I really think that if I ever have more time than interesting things to do in it I would pursue a doctorate in Technology in the English language.

I find it fascinating how modern technology has affected people's ability to write, spell, use punctuation, and construct grammatically correct sentences.



Anyway, back on topic... anyone ever had a virus on a mobile phone ?

 

[rh100]

Non-Windows OS's (inc Mac's) are far better at teaching the user what is going on, without them getting into the habit of just clicking the OK prompt to make it go away without reading the message as *many* Windows users do out of habitignorance...my parents anyone?

lol - last malwarebytes scan of Mum's Pc = 705 baddies ! a record so far

 

[2Loose]

lol - last malwarebytes scan of Mum's Pc = 705 baddies ! a record so far

Your mum barely uses her computer! LoL

 

[CopperBrompton]

lol - last malwarebytes scan of Mum's Pc = 705 baddies ! a record so far

Blimey, she must visit a lot of porn sites!

 

[rh100]

Blimey, she must visit a lot of porn sites!

No it's worse than that, she found Facebook The addons seem to cause loads of problems