[SOLVED] Feedback from prospects

[pauloz]

Hello fellow Linux Liters
I'm doing my best to get the message out to my friends and family just how good LL is - they all share the same problems concerning Windoze, namely slow, sluggish etc and want to do something about it but are not prepared to take that leap of faith. The one question I'm often asked is what anti-virus software, malware etc is available and I tell them it's not needed. They look at me incredulously but the problem is I can't elaborate on my response. Just what can I tell them? Is it because Linux is not targeted as it's market share is tiny compared to Windows & Mac? Or is there something else I can sell them?
Another question, am I able to check out all my postings in one place on the forum?
Looking forward to LL 2.4 - keep up the great work.
pauloz

[Scott(0)]

Hi Pauloz,
Here's an answer to this part of your question

Another question, am I able to check out all my postings in one place on the forum?

There's more than one way to do this. Here's one method. At the very top of the screen (when logged into the forum) click: profile > summary > show posts link (under the icon on the left).

[technomancer]

The one question I'm often asked is what anti-virus software, malware etc is available and I tell them it's not needed. They look at me incredulously but the problem is I can't elaborate on my response. Just what can I tell them? Is it because Linux is not targeted as it's market share is tiny compared to Windows & Mac? Or is there something else I can sell them?

The main reason Linux isn't "as" vulnerable is because every package or software installed requires the user to "login" (sudo/root) and approve installations. (unless bypassed)
It isn't a cure all, since they have to know what they are looking at, however the chance of a virus coming in from email or an untrusted software source is extremely limited. Most hackers use work arounds through web browsers and network exploits nowadays.
Since the packages found in the software managers go through alot of development before we get them the likelihood is null at best.
Good privacy practices are still key, firewall etc... lots of guides online on how to configure your Linux to be as locked down as you want, but performance may suffer somewhat.
Hope that helps.

[gold_finger]

Adding to above, the vast majority of viruses are designed to exploit Windows -- so they won't work if their code executes on a Linux machine.  The main reason anyone using Linux uses anti-virus software is to prevent themselves from spreading viruses to the Windows machines of others (primarily through email).  If you on Linux get an email that is infected with a Windows virus, nothing will happen to you.  But if you forward that email to Windows users, you could spread the virus to them.

If Linux suddenly gains much more popularity, who knows?  Maybe then it will be targeted more.  I'm not an expert on this stuff by any stretch of the imagination, but from what I've read it's harder to target Linux due to fact that things generally can't install themselves on the system without some kind of explicit authorization.  That doesn't mean that ingenious hackers can't (or haven't already) come up with ways to do it -- just that it's more difficult.  Combine that with the fact that Linux makes up such a small market share of the total users (targets) and I'd imagine that makes the extra effort less worthwhile.

The most vulnerable part of the system in Linux is the web browser.  Things designed to exploit flash content or java script exploits can happen in Linux.  Normally, if that happens the web browser will start acting strange, lock-up, etc.  Generally speaking, if you ever run into something like that (should be extremely rare, but depends on the sites you visit I suppose), only the browser will be affected -- not the whole operating system.  Shutting down the browser and clearing the browser cache should rectify the situation.  One can drastically reduce the chances of this happening by simply using browser addons to block potentially malicious code as well as useless ad content.  In Firefox, NoScript and AdblockPlus do a good job in that regard.  (Using Firefox with those addons on a Windows system will help protect Windows from those things too -- so that's not a Linux specific thing.)

Sticking just to the "security" reasons why I use Linux instead of Windows, they are:

• No need to bother with anti-virus, anti-malware, etc. nonsense and the resulting slowdown of the PC by running that stuff.
  
• There is no plethora of various programs mysteriously "calling home" (or wherever else they may be calling) without your knowledge within Linux.
  
• Generally speaking, I have much more control over what the computer is and isn't doing.
  

[pauloz]

Thanks to all who replied to my questions. As usual, the LL forum delivers!
Cheers
pauloz