[Raynes]

Sethro117, on 8 Jan, 2010 - 09:07 PM, said:

Youll wont believe me but doesnt make it any less true. I use Vista ultimate before that XP service pack 2. For the past 4 years, Ive never had a virus or or spyware. I run a full system scan with malware bytes once a year then I uninstall it.

Its not that I know where all them sneaky ba' serds are hiding Im just that good. So therefore I use Mal-ware bytes, once a year and it hasnt found anything in 4 years.

That's pretty much how it went with me. I use Linux now, so I don't really have to worry very much regardless.

[GenHornet18]

No offense Seth, but if Mal-ware bytes doesn't pick it up you assume it's not there? That's not very good logic, it could just be sitting in the background somewhere (haven't yet found an antivirus program that picks up everything, and logic dictates, so long as there created we never will). Shame really, although I have still had virus created within a sealed off PC, just a matter of time really.

[PsychoCoder]

Dogstopper, on 8 Jan, 2010 - 07:45 PM, said:

I run linux. I've never gotten a virus on it. On my Windows machine, I have established that Trend Micro and McAfee are both crap.

Ok let's turn this into a flame war

Not many (if any at all) viruses for *nix because virus/malware writers want to inflict the most widespread chaos possible, cannot do this writing something for something that penetrates about 5% of the PC market (Just saying, it gets old saying how *nix never gets a virus, well there's a reason and it's not because it's 110% secure)

[Choscura]

I don't, I nuke my hard drive and re-install whatever OS I'm currently using on a monthly basis.

[Sethro117]

Its not that I dont think if it doesnt pick it up it isnt there. But usually you can tell if something is going on. From system slowdown, resource usage etc. I dont look at the pr0n, practice safe browing techniques most of the time and can generally get a feel if something is going on with my machine.

Like I said, Im just that good.

[Sethro117]

If you think about it though, to the 1 person looking to exploit security holes in Linux theres 2 or 3 who work on it to patch those exploits. Of course, Linux isnt totally secure but the market share is more than 5%. Netcraft.com ran a survey by using SSL Certificates to see what most servers run. Yes, Windows is ahead but not by much: http://news.netcraft...CMatch/osdv_all

Linux is an alternative OS and although its not 100% secure until the market share increases people should be able to boast that they use Linux because until the market share increases it is a big percentage more secure than Windows. Just my opinion.

[Korupt]

For a home desktop ALL you need is common sense, for a server you don't need an anti-virus program you need a firewall and an IDS. I'm really not familiar with Windows firewalls, OpenBSD'S PF is probably one of the best ones out there currently but I don't think there's a Windows port. As for an IDS there's many "industrial strength" ones that cost tons of money out there but for a nice and simple opensource one, I'd go with Snort (http://www.snort.org/)

This post has been edited by Korupt: 08 January 2010 - 11:17 PM

[Dogstopper]

PsychoCoder, on 8 Jan, 2010 - 11:36 PM, said:

Dogstopper, on 8 Jan, 2010 - 07:45 PM, said:

I run linux. I've never gotten a virus on it. On my Windows machine, I have established that Trend Micro and McAfee are both crap.

Ok let's turn this into a flame war

Not many (if any at all) viruses for *nix because virus/malware writers want to inflict the most widespread chaos possible, cannot do this writing something for something that penetrates about 5% of the PC market (Just saying, it gets old saying how *nix never gets a virus, well there's a reason and it's not because it's 110% secure)

I do admit, that is a very good point. However, in order to access system properties, the user needs to type in the password. However, if the end user is not so smart, then there could be loads of loopholes open, and in Ubuntu based systems, it could be as bad as Windows 7 in that all you have to do is let the program run. (I do like that new feature on 7 too. Makes it hard for system-damaging things to go past).

[Korupt]

Dogstopper, on 9 Jan, 2010 - 12:24 AM, said:

PsychoCoder, on 8 Jan, 2010 - 11:36 PM, said:

Dogstopper, on 8 Jan, 2010 - 07:45 PM, said:

I run linux. I've never gotten a virus on it. On my Windows machine, I have established that Trend Micro and McAfee are both crap.

Ok let's turn this into a flame war

Not many (if any at all) viruses for *nix because virus/malware writers want to inflict the most widespread chaos possible, cannot do this writing something for something that penetrates about 5% of the PC market (Just saying, it gets old saying how *nix never gets a virus, well there's a reason and it's not because it's 110% secure)

I do admit, that is a very good point. However, in order to access system properties, the user needs to type in the password. However, if the end user is not so smart, then there could be loads of loopholes open, and in Ubuntu based systems, it could be as bad as Windows 7 in that all you have to do is let the program run. (I do like that new feature on 7 too. Makes it hard for system-damaging things to go past).

It's not about loopholes in the system and getting around them, there are many in linux and linux viruses could be written, as they can be for mac, bsd, and really any system. The whole thing is in the type of software installed. The most common way people get viruses is by installing some software from the internet (usually trying to get illegal software), in linux (for the distros that do this) and other systems with software repositories you install everything from the distributors' SAFE server. Even in linux distros that don't have repositories most of the software you install is opensource therefore virus free (assuming opensource things are virus free because look over their code).

This post has been edited by Korupt: 08 January 2010 - 11:34 PM

[Raynes]

PsychoCoder, on 8 Jan, 2010 - 09:36 PM, said:

Dogstopper, on 8 Jan, 2010 - 07:45 PM, said:

I run linux. I've never gotten a virus on it. On my Windows machine, I have established that Trend Micro and McAfee are both crap.

Ok let's turn this into a flame war

Not many (if any at all) viruses for *nix because virus/malware writers want to inflict the most widespread chaos possible, cannot do this writing something for something that penetrates about 5% of the PC market (Just saying, it gets old saying how *nix never gets a virus, well there's a reason and it's not because it's 110% secure)

I don't think he was trying to come off sounding like "Haha! I run Linux so it's unlikely that I will ever get a virus. I'm better than you! Windows sucks!"

[anonymouscodder]

In Windows I use Microsoft Security Essentials, on Linux just a simple firewall.

[Digitaleclipse]

I use MSE for windows, no problem so far.

[coden4fun]

I have switched to MSE, and I wuv it!

[demosthenes2k8]

...I use Norton 360. It was a condition by my parents so I could get a new laptop.

[alpha02]

demosthenes2k8, on 10 Jan, 2010 - 10:54 PM, said:

...I use Norton 360. It was a condition by my parents so I could get a new laptop.

Norton is a joke. I use Avast home since I got my computer 8 years ago, I managed to use Windows XP for 7 years straight without formating and with no speed loss. Suddently, my Windows decided to stop booting, so I installed Ubuntu 8.10 dual booted with XP, still with Avast. It's free, so you don't have to bother about cracks / keygens / etc.