« Spoil The Children | Main | Google blog hosted on the Blogger Site Got Deleted »

Mar28
Why Anti-Virus for Linux?

linuxmsn.JPGThere seems to be something rotten afoot in the anti-virus industry these days. At first glance it seems unlikely that there is any use for a GNU/Linux anti-virus application like AVG or ClamAV, yet there they are. And more companies are producing Linux AV as we speak. Is this a blatant fear-ware cash grab?

If Linux is so resistant to virii, why should an enterprise spend money on protecting their systems against something that is less likely to happen than a freak lightening storm? The answer is in the network.

It is highly unlikely that any of your Linux servers or workstations will contract any of the 40 or so known Linux viruses that, incidentally, have yet to be seen outside of a labratory. However, if you have a mixed network of Windows and Linux workstations and servers, you may unhapplily find out one day that while your Linux boxes won't contract a virus, they are more than happy to pass it along the network to your more vulnerable Windows boxes.

Common sense dictates that each workstation in your organization have anti-virus software installed on it regardless of the resident OS. Too many employees bring dirty USB sticks in from home and open emails and click on links that they shouldn't. Not having a robust anti-virus solution at every network entry point is destined to bring trouble.

So should you use anti-virus on the Linux boxes on your network? I would.

Article by Jon Watson from http://www.jonwatson.ca

 

 


10 Comments/Trackbacks




while i mostly agree with what you're saying, you do appear to be somewhat misinformed by the register/securityfocus...

here's a rebuttal from virus bulletin to that securityfocus article that you might find interesting
(linux vs. windows viruses: a rebuttal)

The author didn't mention how a Linux server could help fight viruses on Windows desktops (AV software installed on a mail, proxy, or a file server).

the author of the virus bulletin article only addressed the falsehoods in the original 2003 register/security focus article that the above article references... it doesn't address the additional points that the above article correctly makes about mixed networks...

@Tomasz: Yeah - I inferred that, but you're right - I never actually said it. Yes - the Linux boxes on the network should have AV (workstations AND servers). Thanks for that.

@kurt: Sorry, I'm not sure what you're saying. I will admit that I threw that link in as kind of an afterthought because I wanted *something* to back up my statement that Linux viruses are pretty darn rare as compared to Windows virii. Maybe that wasn't the best choice of link. Thanks!

Just a semantic point. The plural of virus should be viruses. There is no known plural form of virus in Latin. Virus meant "poisonous slime" in Latin and the Romans probably didn't ever feel the need to say "multiple poisonous slimes."

In any case, virii is just plain wrong. If you want to follow Latin gramatical rules, it should be viri, but viri is the plural of man (vir) so you can't say viri to mean more than one virus. Therefore it is best to use the english plural: viruses. If you would like a fuller discussion of the issue, read:
http://linuxmafia.com/~rick/faq/plural-of-virus.html

Damn - I *like* saying virii (sic).

Ah well...yet something else I have to give up, I guess :)

virii ? is that something that's quite common ? I'll need to update my spell checker now

linux viruses ARE rare, but to say that they're only seen in the lab rather than in the wild is false... as the rebuttal article i linked to states, the linux/slammer worm got on to around 14,000 machines...

brontok is a dangerous virus from idonesia. we have new anti virus brontok, we hope this anti rontokbro can remove your virus brontok on your computer ….

HERE CAN DOWNLOAD AND REMOVE OR ERASE VIRUS BRONTOK
http://www.bloxster.net/oho/

submit a trackback

TrackBack URL for this entry:

post a comment

Name, Email Address, and URL are not required fields.





Comment Preview

« Spoil The Children | Main | Google blog hosted on the Blogger Site Got Deleted »

Advertise


Related Resources

Advertise Here

sponsored ads



subscribe


Prefer Email?
Subscribe below-

Enter your Email:


Powered by FeedBlitz What's this?

Current News

Support This Blog

business social media

Use these fast growing business social media sites to promote your business, feature your products, spotlight your business leaders, create links, and drive traffic back to your company site, all for free!

BIZZlogos - Add your logo - free link to your site
BIZZphotos - Add photos of your products and people
BIZZprofiles - Submit your profile and build your online visibility
BIZZspotlight - Spotlight your business with free links
BIZZvideos - Videos about businesses, products and business people.
BIZZbites - "Digg" for Business - Submit your articles and posts

know more media network

View Network Map

Network Feed List (OPML)

Know More Media Network
Feed


we support unitus

PRWeb

Influencer



ITechTips is a member of the Know More Media network of business related blogs.

Here are some current headlines from some of our business publications:

ProductivityGoal

CallCenterScript

AdHurl

TheBizofKnowledge

LandingTheDeal

CustomersAreAlways

HealthCareVox

BrainBasedBusiness

TheInsurancePolicy

MarketingBlurb