Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 19:21:58 -0400 From: Louis LeBlanc <leblanc+freebsd@acadia.ne.mediaone.net> To: "'freebsd-questions@freebsd.org'" <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG>, freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: just how many known viruses are there for FreeBSD? Message-ID: <20010801192157.N56755@acadia.ne.mediaone.net> In-Reply-To: <003d01c11adf$d4d606f0$db1b080f@JSHEETS2K> References: <20010801221246.52013.qmail@web14608.mail.yahoo.com> <5.0.2.1.2.20010801183730.018f6610@pop.voyager.net> <20010801190159.M56755@acadia.ne.mediaone.net> <003d01c11adf$d4d606f0$db1b080f@JSHEETS2K>
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Yes, but as I said, it is a proof of concept virus. Not intended to do any real damage, just show that it is possible. Once upon a time everyone thought running a 4 minute mile was not humanly possible, and it never happened. Someone forgot to tell a particularly skilled athlete about this impossiblity (I don't remember his name), and he set out to do it. After he succeeded, everyone told him it was impossible, but it was too late. In the next few years, the 4 minute mile became quite common. Once the proof of concept is presented, everyone and his brother will try it. So I'd say expect a few other similar virii in the next couple years. Only expect them to be destructive. Many will be the piggyback type for a while, but then someone will say 'what if it isn't a dual boot system?' Then you can expect some other tack at getting the *nix virii out there. That could be a bit longer, but it's all a matter of steps. Regardless, I'm not trying to be chicken little, but rest assured, it's on somebodys list out there. I won't hold my breath for it, but it will come someday. I don't think it will be as big a problem as the continuing exploit hunt, but it will become a concern. L On 08/01/01 05:15 PM, Jason Sheets sat at the `puter and typed: > True but Winux must be introduced on a Windows machine, it seems to me like > its biggest threat is dual booting machines with both windows and linux > installed because once it infects the windows os it begins looking for linux > filesystems on the local machine. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Louis LeBlanc" <leblanc+freebsd@acadia.ne.mediaone.net> > To: <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG>; <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG> > Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2001 5:01 PM > Subject: Re: just how many known viruses are there for FreeBSD? > > > > Not entirely true. A hacker group recently completed the winux virus > > that is capable of infecting both the Linux and Windows OSs. It is a > > proof of concept virus, and IIRC, it is written entirely in assembly - > > meaning that theoretically, it can infect pretty much any ix86 based > > OS. > > > > Search for winux on google - you will get about 2500 hits. Mostly > > hysteria though since the virus isn't terribly destructive - it just > > demonstrates that it _can_ be done. > > > > Lou > > > > On 08/01/01 06:50 PM, Matthew Hagerty sat at the `puter and typed: > > > Patrick, > > > > > > There are not really any "viruses" on UN*X systems, simply due to the > > > nature of how a UN*X system works. It is not like your normal desktop > > > workstation, and there are certainly not (usually) novice users poking > > > around on the box. The security model that UN*X systems are built on > makes > > > it almost impossible for a program [virus] to do any kind of damage, so > > > people don't waste their time trying to write UN*X viruses and simply > > > concentrate on an easier platform... enter Windows. > > > > > > Viruses for a UN*X system are usually in the form of a human parasite > known > > > as a "cracker" or "script-kiddie" trying for breach your system and > install > > > a backdoor. > > > > > > As for convincing your boss, well, if he won't listen and trust his IT > > > people then I would ask him what he hired you for? I suppose you could > > > throw up some names like Yahoo! and say "look, Yahoo! uses > > > FreeBSD..." Windows has its place, but being a high-volume secure web > > > server is *not* one of them. > > > > > > Good luck, > > > Matthew > > > > > > At 03:12 PM 8/1/2001 -0700, Patrick Simon wrote: > > > >To whom it may concern, > > > > > > > >I am wondering (in order to convince my boss) about > > > >the feasibility of using FreeBSD as a webserver > > > >instead of Win2000 running IIS. > > > > > > > >In particular, I was wondering just how many known > > > >viruses there are for FreeBSD. > > > > > > > >Regards, > > > > > > > >Patrick. > > > > > > > >===== > > > >"Some climb up among the rocks." - Jeremiah 4:29 > > > >---------------------------- > > > >Patrick Simon > > > >Employee/Student - QUT > > > >I use this account when email.qut.edu.au is sluggish > > > >Please continue to mail me at patsimon12@cyberdude.com > > > >---------------------------- > > > > > > > >__________________________________________________ > > > >Do You Yahoo!? > > > >Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! > Messenger > > > >http://phonecard.yahoo.com/ > > > > > > > >To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org > > > >with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message > > > > > > > > > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org > > > with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message > > > > > > > -- > > Louis LeBlanc leblanc@acadia.ne.mediaone.net > > Fully Funded Hobbyist, KeySlapper Extrordinaire :) > > http://acadia.ne.mediaone.net ԿԬ > > > > Captain's Log, star date 21:34.5... > > > > > > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org > > with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message > > > > > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org > with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message > -- Louis LeBlanc leblanc@acadia.ne.mediaone.net Fully Funded Hobbyist, KeySlapper Extrordinaire :) http://acadia.ne.mediaone.net ԿԬ optimist: A man who refuses to see the wolf until he seizes the seat of his pants. 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