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FudBusters

August 21, 2003
By Mike DeMaria

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What: Linux, a virus-free OS

When: Ongoing

FUD: Windows is the only platform with virus trouble

FUDBust: Yes, another Windows worm--this one known by the names LoveSan, Blaster and MSBlaster--made news again, but that doesn't mean Linux is invulnerable. There is little correlation between the quantity of viruses written for an OS and the security of the OS.

Many viruses are written for Microsoft OSs for one reason: They represent 95 percent of the market and therefore have the best chance to do harm with malicious code. It's reasonable to suggest that someone could have written viruses into any of the smaller open-source software projects or patches. Just because the source is available does not mean you're immune.

Sure, you could read every line of code to detect viruses, but do you have time? All it takes is one user to be tricked into running a Trojan horse, which isn't hard to do. The fact is, any OS can get a virus.

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