Re: [Evolution] Virus scanning in Evo

[Lloyd D Budd <lloyd foolswisdom com>]

Identify the Linux "desktop-side" virus scanner, and if it is designed
well there will be no problem "integrating it" with Evo.

Cheers,
Lloyd

On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 20:50, Greg Macek wrote:
> I think while everybody makes true statements that Linux is not
> susceptible to most or all the viruses out there, but the fact remains
> that we could be recipients of annoying emails with windows virus
> attachments in them. Having a anti-virus filter tied with Evo (for those
> who don't have it on their mail server) would be nice to have, so we
> wouldn't have to go through all those useless messages. 
>
> Thankfully, we'll be implementing the anti-virus scanning on our office
> mail server soon. This last wave has finally moved the project up on the
> priority list. :) 
>
> On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 16:59, Andre Truter wrote:
> > On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 18:38, Fred Blaise wrote:
> > > Linux not vulnerable to viruses... well this is new to me...
> >
> > This is an academic statement.
> > Yes, it is possible to write a virus for Linux and Unix, but there are a
> > few things that make them less of a threat.
> >
> > There have been a few concept virii written for Linux, to prove a point
> > and there is even a Linux-virus HOWTO
> > (http://www.lwfug.org/~abartoli/virus-writing-HOWTO/_html).
> >
> > The thing is that on Linux the probability that you will get infected by
> > a virus through mail is very slim.  You will basically have to install
> > the virus yourself on your system.
> >
> > Files are normally not executable in Linux. You have to make it
> > executable and run it before it can do anything and then it will only
> > affect your user account, not the system.
> > Linux mail clients normally will not execute any attachments.
> >
> > You have a better change of being hit by a cracker that exploit some
> > vulnerability on your system and gain access to your machine and install
> > some worm or something on your machine, than getting a virus via e-mail.
> >
> > You should rather think of getting a firewall set up.
> >
> > > Let's say that virus makers target what's easier...
> > Yes, writing a virus for Windows is *much* easier than Linux, because
> > Linux does not cater for the environment that is needed by a virus to
> > work.
> >
> > There have even been challenges with prize money to infect a Linux box
> > with a virus and so far nobody had any success.
> > http://www.roaringpenguin.com/mimedefang/anti-virus.php3
> > http://www.silicon.com/news/500013/1/1028211.html
-- 
Lloyd D Budd <lloyd foolswisdom com>