why is Linux not vulnerable to viruses unlike windows?

Question

Linux Vs WIndows

Answer 1

Linux and Viruses

http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/items/viruses/index.php?lang=



Linux and Security

http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/items/security/index.php?lang=



Having read the information above this does not mean Linux is immune

http://www.linux.com/learn/tutorials/284124-myth-busting-is-linux-immune-to-viruses





LUg.

Answer 2

Shane is absolutely right . People who say that there are no viruses for linux and that is why linux is not affected by viruses don't know anything about computers. Linux like Apple mac relies on sophisticated and extremely efficient file permissions. For instance in Windows you can delete an account if you are in your regular (adminstrative account) you can install or remove software and you can change all the files on your system... practical and easy but NOT safe AT ALL. If you can do it so can a virus downloaded from the Internet Linux or the superb MAC OS Snow leopard relies on a comprehensive set of file permissions SO EVEN IF YOU downloaded a virus HOW CAN it be excecuted???



Try deleting another account in linux without elevating the file permissions so superuser (just by entering your password actually ) ... good luck



It would be too long to explain here why linux and macs are IMMENSLY superior to Microsoft Windows on security it is not mac or linux that is that secure actually it is Microsoft that is soo flawed. People who say Microsoft is more used than say Apple are wrong cause there is a great increase in Mac Apple adoption while NO increase in viruses and that will not change at all.



No wonder large corporations and the US army are on UNIX systems and not Microsoft Windows.



RICK

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

One of the reason there are only about 730 viruses total (and only 40 of those are out in the wild, the others 690 or so are in labs for education purposes) is because most of the people who use Linux are themselves programmers and thus will examine the code before installing. The new users or general computer users will only install software from the repositories which is very secure.



In the past, Linux did have issues with I believe worms and rootkits until Linus Torvalds integrated the firewall which loads at runlevel 3. After that, it was much harder to attack a Linux machine.



Also writing a virus for Linux would be very complex, you will have to decide; what filesystem will you be attaching, What architecture e.g., x86, ppc, spark, &c.,? Will it be source, deb, RPM, &c.?



There was a hole in Linux recently : http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Hole-in-Linux-kernel-provides-root-rights-Update-1081317.html . Blackhats hack at Linux and then report the security hole to the Linux Community for it to be fixed. What is interesting about the article is that it failed to mention that it only affected the x86 architecture and had no effect on anything else e.g., spark, ppc, &c.



There are some other reasons, though I believe I explained the main ones.

Answer 5

Shane is honestly suited . people who say that there on the instantaneous are not any viruses for linux and via this linux isn't affected via potential of viruses do no longer understand something approximately desktops. Linux like Apple mac is predicated upon state-of-the-paintings and somewhat efficient rfile permissions. for social gathering in dwelling domicile windows you may delete an account in case you're on your standard (adminstrative account) you may installation or eliminate application and you will have the potential to regulate each and each and each and all the records on your gadget... functional and difficulty-unfastened yet no longer threat-unfastened in any know. in case you're able to do it so can a virulent disease downloaded from the internet Linux or the amazing MAC OS Snow leopard is predicated upon an entire set of rfile permissions SO whether you downloaded a virulent disease HOW CAN it rather is excecuted??? attempt deleting yet yet another account in linux with out elevating the rfile permissions so superuser (making use of potential of entering into into your password honestly ) ... good success it could be too long to describe precise right here why linux and macs are IMMENSLY better efficient to Microsoft dwelling domicile windows on protection it rather isn't mac or linux it is that guard honestly it rather is Microsoft it is soo incorrect. people who say Microsoft is better used than say Apple are incorrect reason there's a great advance in Mac Apple adoption jointly as NO advance in viruses and that may not replace in any know. No ask your self great businesses and the U. S. armed forces are on UNIX structures and not Microsoft dwelling domicile windows. RICK

Answer 6

Its saying wrong that Linux not vulnerable to viruses.

There are viruses for Linux but in less quantity.

They usually attack during data migration that's why every antivirus company has an edition for Linux.

You can search web for this.

Answer 7

Linux is simply more secure than windows, it has very limited access to administrative rights compared to windows. every time you want to install,delete or modify files on a linux system you have to authorize the action by typing in the password while in windows you can log in with administrative powers!

This means that if you wanted to make a virus for linux it would have to be incredibly complex for it to work which implies a highly skilled programmer but for windows, you can pretty much make some nasty virus without too much technical knowledge.

Answer 8

No operating system is invulnerable, but Linux is head and shoulders above windows in terms of security. It is true that more viruses are written for windows. Writing a virus for Linux is much more complex.



http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/why-use-ub…

http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/

http://www.linuxmint.com/ I prefer Linux Mint, but recommend Ubuntu for our newest recruits

Answer 9

no one creates viruses for linux. same for osx. Most people who use computers use windows. People who create viruses (for what ever reason) target the majority.