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

[kbrannen@gte.net]

David Brown wrote:
> No need to remove my name, and I can rebut your comments.
> 
> kbrannen at gte.net wrote:
> 
...
>> Propagation.  There are email clients I haven't used, but of the ones 
>> I have, I have yet to find one that does or allows for 
>> auto-execution.  (If MS would remove that ability I personally think 
>> the majority of Winders viruses wouldn't harm anyone).  For the virus 
>> to spread, there needs to be code executed.  On Linux, you have to 
>> save the file, chmod it, then execute it. Most new people won't make 
>> the effort or don't know how to do that; most experienced Linux users 
>> won't do it period.  Because this process is so difficult for the new 
>> person, the virus can't spread fast enough to prevent it from dieing 
>> out fairly quickly; i.e. it just doesn't get started very well. 
> 
> One word. Trojans.  They don't require auto-execution.

Of course.  I'm not trying to pick nits over semantic differences, but trojans 
and worms are a different kettle of fish, which I acknowledged.  I also 
acknowledged "cracking"; but I thought we were discussing viruses, those ugly 
email things. :-)

...
>> Of course, let's not forget there's always stupid users. :-(  By that, 
>> I mean people who do things against common sense:  run email clients 
>> and other non-essential programs as the root user, do make the effort 
>> to run programs sent to them that they were not expecting, and so on.  
>> But by and large, I firmly believe viruses for Linux will not become 
>> prevalent; they will never be the trouble or make the impact that 
>> Winders viruses are.
>>
>> Kevin
> 
> 
> Exactly.  I noted this specificlly in my reply.  Quote: "Virus on Linux 
> *will* become more prevalent as Linux grows on the desktop and more 
> non-geek users begin to migrate. "
> 
> My point is computers don't error, they fail.  Only users error.  User 
> error is why most computers get infected by virus.  Even Linux.

You and I probably agree more than we disagree, but I do have a different view 
point on viruses and Linux -- even on the desktop.  Will they happen?  Sure, 
bad things happen all the time.  Will it be an impact the way Winders viruses 
are?  I believe not.  The Linux (unix) environment and it philosophy (or mode 
of operation) will prevent them from becoming prevalent and having the news 
articles written about them stating "tens of *illions of dollars of damage due 
to this Linux virus" like CodeRed, SirCam, Nimda, SoBig, Mydoom, and the list 
goes on.

Steve's detailed reply was quite good in expanding on some of my points and 
adding others.  Please consider his post.

Now worms, trojan, and crackers -- those are another thing and are a small 
part of what keeps me employed. :-)

Kevin