Will Linux's growing popularity be its downfall?

[tommytabib]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

After reading all your posts i realize that windows and linux are too different to be similar.

I'd also like to add that in my experience using linux ive found it gives me real piece of mind in terms of viruses and people attaining my personal details.

I guess ive really grown to love linux in the past two or so months ive been using and i now use it more than i use windows, which i never thought would happen. At the beginning when i started using linux i thought id never get used to it because i could not download and install anything, i now realize i can download and install anything (usually a freeware version of another product) just as easy as i could in windows.

Anywho, thanks for clearing that up for me (for a minute there i thought that windows converts like me would eventually be the ones to destroy linux).

[likwid]

World-writable directories are considered a misconfiguration. Misconfiguration accounts for most compromised Linux and Unix machines. People who break system security for kicks can easily exploit a writable directory in everyone's path with simple shell scripting, I Know because, well I used to be into this kind of stuff. This is system specific stuff. Like someone already mentioned in this thread, creating a mass exploitable "virus" just couldn't work in this situation.

However, worms have existed for linux... I remember one when there was that big sshd remote root exploit. There was a worm for a bind exploit a long time ago I think, probably a bunch more that I can't remember. Point is, your Linux systems can get pwned like your Windows ones if you don't take necessary precaution, ie applying patches installing tripwire yadda yadda. Simply installing Linux doesn't guarantee you are secure. OpenBSD now that's a different matter lol

[Krendoshazin]

However, worms have existed for linux... I remember one when there was that big sshd remote root exploit. There was a worm for a bind exploit a long time ago I think, probably a bunch more that I can't remember.

There are indeed worms for many different daemons currently in use, to counter this we must stay up to date with the latest available software to stay ahead. It may seem like a pain to have to upgrade software every so often, but that's the way it goes, keep your internet bound applications on the top of the upgrade priority list and don't let your box fall victim to lazy admin syndrome.