[NTLUG:Discuss] Anti-linux bias in the media

[Greg Edwards]

Steve Baker wrote:
> Greg Edwards wrote:
> 
>> As far as the number increasing, I really have my doubts.  Linux may 
>> be a new kid on the block, but Linux is built on the *nix concepts and 
>> *nix OSes have been around the block more that a few times.  If you 
>> were going to see *nix viruses in abundance they would have showed up 
>> years ago.
> 
> 
> What's changes is that in the pre-Linux day, the only UNIX machines were
> in businesses and college campuses - and the ones on college campuses were
> in organized computing facilities.
> 
> It would be hard for a bad guy to construct a virus under those 
> circumstances.
> 
> What's different with Linux is that people have Linux machines at home 
> where
> they can work in peace and privacy on whatever evil plans they have in 
> mind.
> 
> Also, 10 years ago, people with computers at home didn't send much email or
> run Websites at anything like the rate they do now.  That would have made
> spreading a virus via email almost impossible.
> 

Hackers and crackers didn't wait for the WWW to start playing their 
games.  Network and system security is NOT new, but as you say the 
expansion into millions of homes has made it a boom speciality.

The horizontal market is one of several reasons that you won't see MS 
fix their base security issues.  Why should they since everyone accepts 
it and others make a profit from patching it.

-- 
Greg Edwards
New Age Software, Inc. - http://www.nas-inet.com