2007-09-21 04:18:41 · 4 answers · asked by rajditi27 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
No. Linux, along with pretty much every other operating system, has had viruses. Where Linux and UNIX operating systems do well is in how the viruses affect the system. Users on those systems have little permission (unless they are inept and run strictly as the root account) so any virus attacks will only have limited access to the system, primarily the user data directories.
If you find a Linux/UNIX administrator running without anti-virus software, they are either very careful in what they access or they are at risk of being infected (even if it is a bit more limited compared to a typical MS administrator/user).
** Edit **
I see "winston1smith" is drinking the Microsoft Kool-Aid. Just because something is open it doesn't mean that it can't be used securely. Microsoft spreads FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) about any competing products to their offerings. Keep in mind that open source undergoes community review for function and security. An argument against Microsoft is that proprietary systems don't have those reviews and the code is less secure because of it. Just because the code hasn't been looked at doesn't mean that it is more secure.
2007-09-21 04:35:19 · answer #1 · answered by Jim Maryland 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A virus can be made for Linux easier than for Windows for an obvious reason. Linux code sources are open and available to anyone, contrary to Windows because Microsoft is unwillingly to give it away.
So, hackers have to "guess" how Windows works, whereas they can "know" how Linux does!
2007-09-21 04:29:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Nothing is totally free from viruses or attacks. It all depends on the attacker or virus creator whether they can succeed or not.
2007-09-21 04:28:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
not completely go to download.com and type antivirus
when the second page goes up set the filter to linux
2007-09-21 04:27:36 · answer #4 · answered by Wes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋