Linux security question

[sample text]

what will happen if I download a software which is Trojan or it's just some kind of virus on Linux?Let's say that I have 2 PCs ,the 1st is Windows,the second is Linux and I'm downloading the same infected file..it will have some problems on Windows,but what about Linux?Is it really that good protected?If I don't use antivirus on Linux,how can I be sure if I'm not getting some harmful file,because usually the antivirus warns.Check only the intro of the video to see the example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TErrIvyj_lU&t=90s how can I prevent such situations on Linux?

 

 

P.S my point isn't to talk about piracy/downloading etc,I just wanted to ask if Linux is really that safe,because even some ppl say it's fine if we don't use antivirus softwares..and I'm interested in how Linux's protection/security/virus compatibility works,but If it's against the rules,you can delete the thread,I'm totally fine with that

[WereCatf]

That's not how it works, there are viruses and malware for Linux, too. The thing is, Windows - viruses and Windows - malware don't work under Linux, unless you install Wine (an application that lets you run some Windows - stuff under Linux) and even with Wine it's likely those viruses/malware would just crash. Windows is the most widely-used desktop OS, so most viruses/malware are for it and that's where the perceived security comes from -- any OS where Windows - viruses/malware don't run is considered more secure in practical terms.

[Nocte]

Linux has extremely low market share and is generally populated by technology-literate people. 

 

If you were a malware maker it would only make sense to target the biggest platform with a lot of users who have almost no idea about what they are doing (Windows).

 

Even though I guess that Macs are soon going to be there as well as they are gaining a bit more popularity (and have their good share of tech illiterate users as well). 

 

Linux with <5% desktop share is quite safe. 

[wasab]

It likely will error when trying to run. Getting obscure windows software to run on Linux is generally a huge pain, more so if it’s malware. 

[Mira Yurizaki]

 

10 hours ago, sample text said:

what will happen if I download a software which is Trojan or it's just some kind of virus on Linux?Let's say that I have 2 PCs ,the 1st is Windows,the second is Linux and I'm downloading the same infected file..it will have some problems on Windows,but what about Linux?Is it really that good protected?If I don't use antivirus on Linux,how can I be sure if I'm not getting some harmful file,because usually the antivirus warns.Check only the intro of the video to see the example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TErrIvyj_lU&t=90s how can I prevent such situations on Linux?

 

 

P.S my point isn't to talk about piracy/downloading etc,I just wanted to ask if Linux is really that safe,because even some ppl say it's fine if we don't use antivirus softwares..and I'm interested in how Linux's protection/security/virus compatibility works,but If it's against the rules,you can delete the thread,I'm totally fine with that

Considering that Linux cannot natively run Windows apps, then downloading malware for Windows cannot affect Linux. I would even go as far as to say even if you could get it to run with say WINE, the malware may be looking for known Windows locations to try and affect, which don't exist on Linux. For example, there are no drive letters in Linux, so the moment the Windows malware goes "I'm going to nuke C:\Windows\System32" it's going to immediately fail because that concept doesn't even exist on Linux.

 

Linux isn't safer than Windows per se, at least with the latest versions. What made Linux great with security from the get go was how simple, yet effective its permissions system is. It also had one other trick: by default, unless you are the root user (which is a special account), every app you run is run with standard user privileges. Meaning it can't mess with the system or other user's files. If you wanted to run it with higher privileges, you could. This alone mitigates a lot of malware attacks. That is, the malware can't do much damage if run normally. It can do a lot damage though if run with higher privileges.

 

The other part of it is that if you wanted to run an app with higher privileges, often you had to do it manually and you had to enter a password (often your user account's). While I like to equate Windows' UAC feature to this, it's seen more as a confirmation prompt than something you invoke. The difference being that if you have to invoke something, it may make you think about why it actually needs higher privileges. At least that's what I hope is the mindset going on here.

 

In any case, most evildoers are more after getting admin privileges and poking holes than running malware. Malware these days can be detected with ease and with Windows, UAC mitigates their effectiveness.

[Fetzie]

6 hours ago, wasab said:

It likely will error when trying to run. Getting obscure windows software to run on Linux is generally a huge pain, more so if it’s malware. 

Even getting "standard" Windows software to run (for example via WINE) can be a complete ball-ache

[Sauron]

If it's a Windows malware, it won't work on Linux - but if it's a Linux malware it will work on Linux and not Windows. Linux malware is just a lot rarer than Windows malware and it's typically less dangerous (although it depends). There is anti-virus software for Linux if you're worried, personally I don't feel the need for one.

[Dat Guy]

On 21.5.2018 at 7:45 PM, sample text said:

Is it really that good protected?I

No, it is not.

[AbsoluteFool]

Don't get me wrong. There are some serious Linux viruses out there, but the chance getting them seems to be quite small. I'm quite sure Apple products will get more viruses than Windows if people keep buying it.

 

But yeah.. You cannot get a virus designed for Windows on a Linux computer. Not sure about how OS X is, but a Virus made to bit OS X could potentionally hit onto Linux. But do not quote me on that.. I've never used a Mac and don't know how the system is set-up.

[sample text]

8 hours ago, AbsoluteFool said:

Don't get me wrong. There are some serious Linux viruses out there, but the chance getting them seems to be quite small. I'm quite sure Apple products will get more viruses than Windows if people keep buying it.

 

But yeah.. You cannot get a virus designed for Windows on a Linux computer. Not sure about how OS X is, but a Virus made to bit OS X could potentionally hit onto Linux. But do not quote me on that.. I've never used a Mac and don't know how the system is set-up.

when I was younger,I read somewhere that Mac has good security like Linux and you don't even need an antivirus on Mac just like Linux,but maybe it's not like that anymore(talking about MACs)

[Dat Guy]

9 hours ago, AbsoluteFool said:

I'm quite sure Apple products will get more viruses than Windows if people keep buying it.

They already do. Windows has improved a lot.