On Tue, 10 Sep 2002, Paul Greene wrote: > All; > > I need a quick little factoid for something related to work. Does anyone > know the exact number of virus that exist for Linux? > > (If not the *exact* number, then plus or minus, say, 2 or 3) > > Also, I know it's off topic, but am asking just in case someone might > know; does anyone have the same information for Solaris? (Sparc or Intel > versions) > > I'm having a dispute with someone about whether Unix/Linux based servers > should be running anti-virus software or not. My take is that unless the > Unix/Linux box is running either an e-mail server or an ftp server for > Windows or Mac based clients, then it's a waste of money to require > anti-virus software for the box.
Well, I think you might end up with a definitions battle on your hands over this one. I don't know that there are email viruses in the strict sense as used with Windows email viruses, but there are security holes in some programs that may be used to gain access to a box with different permissions than the owner intended, and there are rootkit exploits. You may want to run email virus checking software on a UNIX box if there will be Windows clients accessing it, but to protect the clients, not the server. It certainly does make sense to check for rootkits regularly, using chkrootkit or tripwire. Check out http://www.chkrootkit.org/ for some good software, and a list of currently known rootkits. One can also install port scanning detection programs and the like, but the single most important security measure to take is to subscript to a security exploit mailing list and a redhat update mailign list, and be fascist about updating your packages. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DDDD David Kramer [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://thekramers.net DK KD DKK D There are 10 types of people in the world: DK KD those that understand binary, and those that don't. DDDD -- redhat-list mailing list unsubscribe mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?subject=unsubscribe https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list
