Messages in this thread | | | Date | Thu, 15 Jan 1998 01:42:00 +0100 | From | Martin von Loewis <> | Subject | Re: Virus on Linux |
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> I was having a discussion with a friend concerning the chance of viri > being written for linux and I was wondering if this is possible and > if it isnt why isnt it? As I dont think this is relavent to the > linux-kernel should probably be taken to private email ;)
It is possible and has been demonstrated. However, a virus on Linux could only do what a the user executing it can do. Usually, that puts a limit on spreading the virus. For example, it can't infect /usr/bin, as the user can't write the files over there.
If a virus is executed by root, much more is lost. For example, if the virus sets itself into /lib/libc.so, every dynamically linked program is instantly infected.
Regards, Martin
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