why windows viruses doesnt effect linux?

[johnhagen]

hi guys

as title says why a virus for windows operating system wont work on ubuntu?or is there a possibility a windows operating virus can effect linux too?

and is there any virus works on both?
thanks

[Dapper Dan]

Hi johnhagen. Welcome to the forum!

A non-technical answer: For the same reason rabies does not infect fish. Dogs and fish are two different animals. I do not know of any viruses that can affect both Windows and Linux. I suppose it is possible. Someone would have to be really good (or bad, as the case may be) to come up with one that could infect both operating systems in the same way.

[rokytnji]

EEEEER. Linux does not use a registry. exe. actly.

No wonder my OS won't find a dll.

[MikeTbob]

Try this link, it helps clear things up a little bit.
Note to new Linux users: No antivirus needed | Linux.com

[supermanisdeady]

different OS, different system, different architecture...

[ryokimball]

I would like to point out that OS-independent platforms (like java, adobe air, etc) are subject to viruses, be it in linux, windows, mac, or what-have-you, as the platform is more-or-less a virtual machine. Of course, these also have to "break out" to be damaging (depending on the target, I suppose)... And still, this is not a linux problem, but their respective creators.

[Rubberman]

Try this link, it helps clear things up a little bit.
Note to new Linux users: No antivirus needed | Linux.com

That article states the case quite succinctly. I would add a note, that I only use AV software on my Linux systems to scan the Windows discs of friends and clients that have become infected, or to scan downloaded Windows executables that I might want to run in the Wine environment.

[SkyHiRider]

I would like to point out that OS-independent platforms (like java, adobe air, etc) are subject to viruses, be it in linux, windows, mac, or what-have-you, as the platform is more-or-less a virtual machine. Of course, these also have to "break out" to be damaging (depending on the target, I suppose)... And still, this is not a linux problem, but their respective creators.

I wonder, if the virus uses a vulnerability in java to break in the system (and break out of java as you said) it also needs a vulnerability in the host system (be it Lin or Win) to be able to go on a killing spree. There was a problem with the Android platform where a few stolen apps were modified to break out of the VM, root the phone and do nasty stuff. The fix was applied to Android itself and not Java if I'm not mistaken.

So in theory Linux should be safer when using it as a host for a cross-platform solution as the glitches should get fixed faster and found out sooner, right?

Anyone have a reference to a comparison of security measures, break ins and the speed of fixing them on different platforms? I know that Linux is thought to be one of the safest systems there is but a valid study would be of great help.