Kaspersky: Mac and Linux viruses to rise ’significantly’

ZDnet ^ | April 25th | Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

According to security expert Eugene Kaspersky, we are at the brink of seeing a significant rise in malware attacks on Mac and Linux platforms. So, are hackers ready to target a broad range of platforms or is this merely hyperbole from a security firm that wants to sell products?

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

I get the impression from the interview that Kaspersky is very much in a brainstorming future products mode, or maybe the interview is partly a trial-balloon to see how the idea of security products for Mac and Linux are received … … which is an interesting thought. Just how would Mac and Linux users feel about having to buy security software and then pay a subscription fee on top of that? Hmmm. Because so many Mac and Linux users already believe that their operating systems is secure (or maybe even impervious to malware!) this will make it a very hard sell indeed.

[Duke Nukum]

I don’t know about Mac’s but for linux the number one security feature is it’s impossible to install anything so I can see how it would be virus-proof.

[jdm]

Kaspersky makes a damn fine anti-virus.

[doc1019]

Been preaching the eventual downfall of the Mac (to spyware/malware/etc.) for some time now (and sincerely hoping to be proven wrong) … laughs, giggles and general guffaws have been my reward. Now an expert agrees with my future-look.

I can even predict when this will happen.

My next ‘puter is going to be a Mac; shortly thereafter the attacks will commence … call it luck, fate or general life experiences.

I will then spend most of my free time downloading patches, updates and bug fixes for my new Mac, just like I have been doing forever with my MS OS.

After all, what would life be like if I didn’t have an OS that needed constant updating and fixing. To spend all my time in productive work … perish the thought.

Please, oh, please let me and Mr. Kaspersky be wrong. Getting so tired of “fixing” my software.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

On linux it’s actually very easy to install stuff. The key is the root password. No root password, no installs.

^^^^^^^^^^Linux: More of a cult then an OS. Mac: Beyond a Cult. A joyless Jihad.^^^^^^^^^^^^

Bwahahaha, I love it!

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

Seems he wants to make his damn fine anti-virus for linux and macs too.

All of this is rooted in the winme sequel(vista) bomb.

While most people shun vista and embrace XP, there will also be those who jump ship to either linux or a mac. Linux carries the distinct advantage of no price tag and keep-your-current-hardware. A mac comes with the distinct advantage of 3rd party commercial awareness/availability.(software, like photoshop or tax software)

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

Just install linux on your current box, and still buy a mac.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^My next ‘puter is going to be a Mac; shortly thereafter the attacks will commence … call it luck, fate or general life experiences.^^^^^^^^^^^^^

ROFL.............

I could just see it, they’ll be over there at maccentral with pitchforks and torches ready to bust down your door.

[Duke Nukum]

Even if you have root password, very, very hard to install stuff on linux. lots of dependencies that fail then you search all over the web and find unsigned rpms. Big, big, big, huge, giant, mess.

Takes two weeks just to install Thunderbird.

Then Thunderbird decides all my undread email is junk and eats it all.

I remember when computers first come out and they make life easier but not it is opposite no matter which OS you get.

[Duke Nukum]

I don’t really have a choice, it is for work so I am stuck with Redhat.

I accidentally install Fedora Core which was much easier to use but work never likes anything to be easy to use and semi-productive. The clunkier and more awkward the better :(

For a while I was really excited and even thought of getting linux for home and trying to play games with wine but not so much anymore.

I do find some linux sites that are helpful better then the stupid, elitist linux people who say to read the unreadable man pages. I hate those things. Like reading Beowulf in Olde English. Sure it can be done but it takes all the good stuff out of the story trying to interpret and then you don’t really care who Beowulf is or who Grendel is because you’re so busy trying to read the stupid, unreadable man page.

[bigdcaldavis]

but for linux the number one security feature is it’s impossible to install anything so I can see how it would be virus-proof.

Yep. It's called "root permissions". Which is why only a fool would run as root.

[Duke Nukum]

It’s also called an unreasonable amount of dependencies for any one program one desires to install.

If you need all these libraries and things, why don’t they include it with the program? It is so ridiculous. One has to install 20 programs to get one program to work even half way.

The latest problem I have is with sound. I run the sound card detection program and when I say I don’t hear anything it says “there will be no sound on this system, click on OK” but it’s not okay. It is frustrating. I would click on the frustration button but tend to leave the other dialog box running until I reboot.

One should never say it’s okay if it is not okay. And one should never say it’s good if it is not good. That would be lying. They used to say “computers can’t lie” but I guess operating systems can.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

Why didn’t you just open up synaptec? It would’ve been installed in 30 seconds flat.(unless you’re on dialup)

[Duke Nukum]

I never hear of this synaptic. I’ll google it and give it a try.

[Duke Nukum]

that sounds nice. I get confused with all the words like Ubuntu and Debian. When looking for help by googling it’s confusing as to which applies to me.

Be well.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

http://www.nongnu.org/synaptic/action.html

[bigdcaldavis]

Blame it in Goobuntu, I mean Google OS. :)