Why (Ubuntu) Linux Doesn't Have Viruses, concerning web-Phishing.

[kingzach74]

Where did you get the TUBE app for ubuntu? Can you get it in Kubuntu 11.04?

[dubstepgamer]

We need more awareness. Most people using the net have no idea how a computer works. They think the browser is Google, and have never heard of Adblock. Besides, I don't know about America, but here in the UK all we get is a small tutorial to using MS Office, and where the internet icon is. The problem is that computers are TOO easy to use nowadays.

[BigBananaMan]

We need people that fall for things like this because the fodder protects the serious users. If spammers needed to work harder to program sophisticated malware then they would be capable of targeting us all, possibly even non Windows systems if they invest enough in advanced development. Spamming is big business. Besides, someday if I need a massive processing cluster or something on those lines, I'd like to know it's available on the cheap.

[hurenbock5000]

Windows puts the focus on a user-friendly GUI. User-friendly as in 'everything can be done by clicking buttons'. I guess that's the main reason why Linux never gets as popular as Windows. Although there were huge steps forward in user-friendliness, Linux remains a mystery for many users when it comes to things like terminal usage or manual package installation. Users simply don't want to manually enter text in a prompt window. The drawback is: Windows also is virus-friendly...

[AddColorsToYourLife]

even if a malicious package is installed on any linux distro, they are installed separately from the actual OS. all you have to do is pop in a live disk, nuke the directory where installed, varying on which distro... there you go. THE ABOVE IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY even if you TRY to run a virus using wine. LINUX FTW

[MrC0MPUT3R]

I love when I get those popups that look like xp's firewall/virus scanner and I laugh because I'm using linux with a theme way different from XP

[N00bizme]

@MrC0MPUT3R lol yeah :P

[merkur32123]

Lol, debian has more themes that Ubuntu, and my favourite theme is not on ubuntu!

[Yldii]

The scam is the same as the Mob going into local businesses and charging them for protection from the Mob.

[longhairsRcool]

This is mostly BS people don't know a lot about internet/network security, and there  is a lot of misinformation out there. There are few malware problems with linux because 1. it isn't popular 2. it has a decent permissions system. 3. Yes it has packages. The thing is most malware is spread from things like Java exploits online which CAN affect any OS but the code execution in a java exploit is almost always windows. There are sites hackers can access your PC JUST VISITING THE SITE!!

[Tununias]

You can also download more themes and customise them.

[cronocopio]

Also the programs must be installed as root and all critical configurations of the system require roots rights to be done. Script must be executables before they can be used.

Resuming we have:

-Secure software repositories.

-Separate user and administrative accounts.

-Availability of source code when unsure about an application.

-Scripts are not executable by default.

-Secure practices are built-in in the Linux culture.

[DaveTube24]

how did you get wigets

[maw88ify]

@DaveTube24 it's called screenlets that can be installed from the software center.

[leveillerems]

thanks for helping to tell people why is Ubuntu virus free

[kiernanholland]

@ThingsontheWeb I was due to go somewhere and wasn't thinking, I just blurted that out.. I know, I have my own relatives who I'd like to convert to Linux, but seems like they are converting to the mac, which is almost a relief, though I can't stand Apple's walled garden approach to keeping its users dependent on them (only apple hardware works with apple software, only stuff you download from iTunes works on apple hardware, when you get an iPhone you have to get a AT&T contract, etc..)

[kiernanholland]

@ThingsontheWeb Well you could maybe refer them to that guy who won the lottery and his daughter became a heroine addict, because he kept giving her money, and lost all her friends. Also they will rest better knowing that every program in their computer has the potential to perform malicious acts at any time and there isn't a virus killer that can stop such programs. There is a huge one, it is called Microsoft Windows, and a lot of us has it, and can't really get it off our machines.

[kiernanholland]

@sorrow413 Me too. I have a learning disability called audio perceptual difficulty, it means several things like:

1. when two people are talking I can't understand either.

2. I sound out words in my head when I read.

Consequently I have others like I jumble words when I speak, or I'll use a word opposite in place of what I mean to say. I mad c's in english until I took technical writing in college. And it took me 10 years to get a bachelors in college, but I got an 3D animation award, mid-way.

[kiernanholland]

@sorrow413 Me too. I have a learning disability called audio perceptual difficulty, it means several things like:

1. when two people are talking I can't understand either.

2. I sound out words in my head when I read.

Consequently I have others like I jumble words when I speak, or I'll use a word opposite in place of what I mean to say. I mad c's in english until I took technical writing in college. And it took me 10 years to get a bachelors in college, but I got an 3D animation award, mid-way.

[commodore256]

It was a scam like this that made me a Linux user in the first place.

I installed Antivirus 2008 and googled "free programs" because I didn't know what kind of program windows was and I searched for windows and I was like "so, Windows is an 'Operating System' I wonder if there is any free Operating Systems that I can install".

Here's the funniest part I found out that Antivirus 2008 was made by a Russian company called "Bakasoftware" and "Baka" is not Russian, it's Japanese and it means idiot.

[kiernanholland]

@commodore256 Wow!

[depravedsinner]

@kiernanholland so till me why i can make a root-kit and virus that can cripple an entire Linux system. it not an something i share but i can write them and they will cripple your system. they run in the background. and shout off as soon as you try too run clamAV OR tiger

[LinuxUserForever]

@kiernanholland

First I just wanted to say it's a great informational video though a little techie for the common user. I think the bottom line regarding Linux(Ubuntu) getting viruses vs Windows getting viruses is human ignorance. With Windows(and I've been around Windows since 3.0) a user could have all the updates, anti-virus programs, anti-malware and still make a couple mouse clicks and get infected. In Linux you would have to force that virus to install by allowing it permissions to do so.

[kiernanholland]

@ThingsontheWeb

Well all you do is make it so that they can't do anything else but use the web browser and email. Put them in a user account without super user priviledges. If they are so dumb.. And when they complain, install new software for them. Or you could give them a distribution of Ubuntu with everything needed like Mint. Or get them to buy a macintosh.

[commodore256]

Good counter-point on the OS phishing trick!

But, most computer users don't change their theme. I was gonna say "The bad guys will just make the Popup Window using the Human Theme and hope for the best", but the reason why windows users don't change their theme is because they don't see the option in windows to make the window borders and taskbar pink or whatever.

I have thought of theming as protecting you from viruses, but I forgot about it.

I got one of those messages using a mac theme.