Comments on: Yet Another Microsoft Worm [Conficker] Runs Amok

By: el_b

el_b — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:04:57 +0000

There have been viruses for UNIX, but the environment gets more and more hostile.
I didn’t like Ubuntu alot. I like Linux mint more, and Debian for more experienced users.

By: Les

Les — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:21:11 +0000

Sure, I must admit that EVERYONE, including Linux & Mac users, are suceptible to worm or virus attacks if one isn’t vigilant enough. But, the risks, in my opinion, of that happening in either a Linux or Mac system are nowhere near as great as they are in a Windows system. Case in Point – In jobs I have had in the past where I have had to use computers that used the Windows operating system, regardless of the version, I, being logged in as only a guest, could go right to the core of Windows(C:\\Windows\ and C:\\Windows\system32) and begin deleting and/or modifying files at my sole discretion, no password required. One must think that if I, being a lowly guest user on a Windows system, could do all that, just think how easily a worm or a virus could wreak havoc on a system without needing any sort of password.

By: Alan Lord

Alan Lord — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:34:45 +0000

@thevirus,

thanks for dropping by and commenting. Your argument is well written and made. In fact, you might care to read a subsequent post on the discussion of the nature of a possible Linux virus. It is actually a gnome/kde/ desktop type virus, but clearly shows how one needs to be on guard constantly. Here’s the link: http://www.theopensourcerer.com/2009/02/11/free-linux-virus-writing-course/

Thanks again.

By: thevirus

thevirus — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:15:23 +0000

Pertaining to the posts about windows versus other operating systems…

I have been a very devoted windows user for all of my life up until about 2 months ago. I started with 3.1 right up through Windows 7 build 7000. I love Windows, but I switched to Linux because I wanted to broaden my scope of operating systems. I really enjoy Linux, the look and feel of Xubuntu 8.10, and the general experience. I feel that each operating system out there has a place in society, for different types of people. I do support the idea that if put under more pressure that Linux and MAC would become more vulnerable to attacks. I love the support from the open source community and I am very impressed and pleased with the products they have created. But we all have to remember, if windows machines become infected with a virus such as the conficker it doesn’t just affect windows machines. Just because Linux and MAC may not be susceptible to infection no node is immune to DoS attacks like excessive network traffic. Even if MAC and Linux were to be “coded better” than Windows, for me to draw that conclusion would be implying that I am willing to throw away good security practices on the chances that something bad won’t happen. But this is all beside the big picture, if you can trick the user, or gain physical access to a system it doesn’t matter what operating system you are using. Like Schiener says, “Security is a process, not a product.”

By: The Open Sourcerer » OOXML Fataly Flawed?

The Open Sourcerer » OOXML Fataly Flawed? — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:39:04 +0000

[...] the last few scant months, there have been several major and very serious security flaws and attack [...]

By: The Open Sourcerer » Really Desperate Times for Fortify?

The Open Sourcerer » Really Desperate Times for Fortify? — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:00:56 +0000

[...] believe is inherently more secure, and more robust too. Just recall on the last couple of months of Microsoft security [...]

By: Ian Betteridge

Ian Betteridge — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:54:12 +0000

Charles – Ubuntu is my main OS. Although I still have a small Windows partition, it barely gets booted – there’s one application I use which has no FOSS equivalent and won’t work in WINE, so sadly I have to boot Windows once a week or so. But other than that, I don’t use Windows (and haven’t for years).

By: Ian Betteridge

Ian Betteridge — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:50:28 +0000

That’s a clever piece of social engineering, Alan – but how do you code to stop it? If you include the ability to autorun a piece of software on insertion of media (which is generally a convenience for users) AND you use the name and icon of the application to show what it is that wants to run, then this trick will always work.

There will always be ways of using any feature which adds convenience to attack the user. No doubt the “scaled back” UAC in Windows 7 will be less secure than the (over-the-top) version in Vista – at which point, people will claim that it’s less secure. Which, in one sense, it is. The only really secure system is one where the user has no choice about what is installed on his machine – and that would be rather a dull PC

By: Charles Norrie

Charles Norrie — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:04:37 +0000

Dear Ian,

You should not let the best be the enemy of the good.

I suffered for years whilst using Windows, not malware as I always didinfected, but that was a pain as I had to do it every day, actively and if I ever had to re-install Windows then download yet another from AVG.

But I don’t have to actively intervene in keeping my machine safe with Ubuntu.

Less maintenance time means I can do more work on my mcahine.

Why not try it out using a dual-boot?

By: Boycott Novell » IRC: #boycottnovell @ FreeNode: January 20th, 2009 - Part 2

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:37:29 +0000

[...] http://www.theopensourcerer.com/2009/0…; [...]