Re: Virus on Linux

Martin von Loewis (martin@mira.isdn.cs.tu-berlin.de)
Thu, 15 Jan 1998 01:42:00 +0100

> I was having a discussion with a friend concerning the chance of viri
> being written for linux and I was wondering if this is possible and
> if it isnt why isnt it? As I dont think this is relavent to the
> linux-kernel should probably be taken to private email ;)

It is possible and has been demonstrated. However, a virus on Linux could
only do what a the user executing it can do. Usually, that puts a limit
on spreading the virus. For example, it can't infect /usr/bin, as the
user can't write the files over there.

If a virus is executed by root, much more is lost. For example, if the
virus sets itself into /lib/libc.so, every dynamically linked program
is instantly infected.

Regards,
Martin