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<DIV>not true. Standard RedHat 7.3, by default, has way more scripting
languages than windows will ever have.<BR><BR>Also, functionality of mail
readers for Linux approaches, and in some areas surpasses what windows
offers.<BR><BR>The difference is - scripting langauages for Linux are
'abstracted' from the operating system, making it difficult to wreak any real
harm, whereas in windows these scripting languages are a fundamental part of the
O/S, and therefore have read/write permission for everything. This is a
foolish scenario of course as any virus writer has free-run of the system once
he is past the initial hurdle - getting the email onto the users' desktop.<SPAN
class=033515123-08102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2> </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=033515123-08102002></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=033515123-08102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>You've
put it better than I have, in that it's the way in which Microsoft has
implemented the scripting support that is so dangerous, whereas Linux scripts
aren't able to access the OS itself, unless you give them that
permission.</FONT> </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=033515123-08102002></SPAN><SPAN class=033515123-08102002><FONT
face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2> </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=033515123-08102002> </SPAN>It is daft to run *any* program
as root, unless it is gauranteed secure - which it rarely is, hence the regular
'vulnerabilites' type updates we see for Linux distros.<SPAN
class=033515123-08102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2> </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=033515123-08102002></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=033515123-08102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>And
it's this sort of constant reminding that is the reason Linux users do generally
setup a user account and work from there, as well as the ease of switching to
root, if you need to tweak the system.</FONT> <FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2> So let's keep it up, nothing like encouraging good habits.
:)</FONT></SPAN><BR><BR>"end user" software *never* runs as root unless a.
the system is not connected to *any* network, b. you are happy with
destroying your system with a single typo (done it 3 times myself) or
c. you just like living dangerously.<SPAN class=033515123-08102002><FONT
face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2> </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=033515123-08102002></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=033515123-08102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Much
the same here. :)</FONT> </SPAN><BR><BR>of course, as you suggest,
non-root processes have a very limited opportunity to do harm.<SPAN
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size=2> </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=033515123-08102002></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=033515123-08102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Unless
they can exploit a local root hole in something on the
system...</FONT> <FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>(Download patches, I
hear you say :) )</FONT></SPAN><BR><BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid">
<BLOCKQUOTE
cite="midB17EB7B34580D311BE38525405DF623201318628@atc-mail-db.atctraining.com.au"
type="cite"><PRE wrap=""><BR>For a pure Linux environment, there's no real need for a traditional virus<BR>scanner.... yet. That may change one day, if more virus writers target<BR>Linux.<BR></PRE></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><BR>agreed. I think the hax0r community will be less inclined to
destroy an open-source operating system. Many folks (even non-crackers)
consider microsoft to be equivalent to the tax-man, and could not care less if
microsoft were targetted. Linux is a community-owned system, and is less
likely to be actively targetted.<BR><BR>I have run Linux for 3 years or so (no
windows in our house) I have never been touched by any virus/attack/anything,
and I'm on the net 24/7.<BR>I have *recieved* a few viruses, but simply
deleted them.. <shrug><BR><BR>viruses, today, are irrelevant to
Linux.<SPAN class=033515123-08102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2> </FONT></SPAN></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><SPAN class=033515123-08102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Agreed, in the case of viruses as Windows users know them.
However, worms are a different matter, but the methods for preventing worm
infestation are generally good administration practice (disable unecessary
services and keep software up to date, as well as judicious use of
iptables/ipchains/etc).</FONT></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>
<BR>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>---<BR>
Outgoing mail has been scanned for Viruses<BR>
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).<BR>
Version: 6.0.393 / Virus Database: 223 - Release Date: 30/09/2002<BR>
</FONT> </P>
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