a question re: security

[Brian Densmore]

Eric,

   My opinion is that you don't need an antivirus package for Linux. I
haven't actually seen any Linux "viruses". I have seen some worms [none
on my box, just CERT advisories], but if you don't use the root account
and you haven't given your account special privileges you have nothing
to worry about. This may change in the future.
Secondly, if you set your security to paranoid, you should be safe from
all but the most toxic of crackers [again provided you don't run as
root]. Having a user account as opposed to using the superuser root
account is your best protection against crackers. You will want to get
on a security list somewhere to keep current with the latest weaknesses
[and fixes] in software.

And yes I did have a Merry Christmas. Now I need to go out and chop some
more wood for New Years.
:)
I hope yours was merry, you didn't mention.

My $1/50,
Brian

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Eric Gilliland [mailto:jegilliland at hotmail.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2001 10:00 AM
> To: kclug at kclug.org
> Subject: a question re: security
> 
> 
> Hello Everyone,
> 
> I hope you all had a merry christmas.
> 
> I have a question about security.  As I said in a previous 
> post, I recently 
> installed a hardware modem, and can now get on the internet 
> via linux.  As 
> recommended by Mandrake, I installed and ran BastilleChooser. 
>  I set the 
> security level for "Paraniod", said that the machine is Not a 
> server, and it 
> was done.  My first question is Is this sufficient to protect 
> me while 
> browsing?  I do not download many things, and when I do it is 
> generally from 
> a "respectable" source like ZDNet.  Are there any other 
> security measures I 
> need to take?
> 
> My other question is about viruses.  Is there a good 
> antivirus package for 
> linux? Do I need an antivirus package? I found one via ZDNet, 
> but it was 
> kind of expensive ($50).  My interent use is basically email browsing 
> (generally using Konqueror) and Quake III (as soon as I get a linux 
> version).  Any thoughts on my need for an antivirus package?
> 
> For background, I am running Mandrake 8.1 on a Dell Dimension 
> 8100 Pentuim 4 
> 1.3 with 256 megs of RAM and a 56k modem internet connection. 
>  I dial up 
> using kppp.
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> 
> Eric
> 
> 
> J. Eric Gilliland
> jegilliland at hotmail.com
> Meet it is I set it down, that one may smile, and smile, and 
> be a villain.
> Hamlet Act 1 Scene 5
> 
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