why we need Wine

[Rubberman]

Segfault, do you have a link to that article? Would appreciate a chance to read it. TAL.

[D-cat]

I'm not saying it's a common occurrence, just that it has happened before. I remember when it did, it made news... we were cracking jokes about the 1:1 operability goal and mimicking Windows functions means mimicking its flaws too.

I understand that a Windows virus running under WINE will not be able to do extensive or long term damage, but the typical data miner of this age can theoretically succeed in the current session as long as it doesn't try to escape user space.

Yes, I know that 99.9% of Windows viruses simply crash... I by some degree of luck on a mis-click have had that experience (I was trying to identify a virus by sending to an AV scan and it executed it instead). All I'm saying is the better WINE gets, the more possible it becomes.

[Segfault]

Segfault, do you have a link to that article? Would appreciate a chance to read it. TAL.

Unfortunately I don't have this link. A quick Google brought up some, one is here:
Linux.com :: Running Windows viruses with Wine

Remark: Indeed, for instance MS IE in Wine is still vulnerable as a stand-alone program. The environment is not.

[MikeTbob]

Correct me if I am wrong here, but doesn't any malware/spyware get purged as soon as you exit WINE? If not, then it would be a good idea to virus scan these files after say a week of use?

[Segfault]

I dont think they are purged. I'm not a big Wine user so I may be mistaken. However, let's think of two scenarios, cracker wants access to your system:
0. You run a good browser (FF) on an insecure OS (Windows). Crackers kits sold in the underworld guarantee breaching into any Windows system regardless what browser is used. The point here is not the browser but the underlying OS is vulnerable.
1. You run a vulnerable program (IE) in secure environment (Wine/POSIX). Some datamining might work but system cannot be breached, your puter does not get "owned". Most common goals of blackhats cannot be achieved (spam relay, DoS platform, etc.)
Also, if you run just some apps in Wine then these apps hardly can be infected because they are not exposed to the internet.

Edit: Hehee, just noticed I'm a Linux newbie, so what do I know.