Viruses with Ubuntu??

Question

I have had Ubuntu 8.04 for about three months and love it. I was just wondering is it true that Ubuntu cannot get viruses. WHATSOEVER.

Thanks.

Answer 1

No, any operating system that you can code programs for, can get a virus. Who ever told you that is stupid.

Answer 2

In principle, yes - Ubuntu could get viruses. In practice there are very few viruses for Linux, and the ones that exist are not very widespread. Not only that - because there are so many flavours of Linux, any particular virus is not guaranteed to work with your system.

The usual precautions apply - be careful about what files you run, don't install software from untrusted sources, keep your system up to date, etc.

One advantage of Ubuntu is that you are not running as the all-powerful "root" (administrator) user most of the time, so if you do get some malware, it should "only" be able to delete your personal files and not affect other users on the same computer. That's still pretty serious for you though. You do make backups, right?

Another advantage of Ubuntu (and Linux in general) is the huge variety of free software available from the built-in software update system. No need to look on dodgy sites for cracked software with backdoors and other infections built in.

I think Ubuntu's great. If anyone's interested, you can install it alongside Windows to see if it's for you.

Answer 3

There are a couple of viruses out there for Linux, but due to the security model the OS uses, its almost impossible for them to infect a system, so they are very rare.

Just make sure you keep up to date with security updates. Ubuntu will check for you automatically, and the update icon will change to inform you when updates are available.

Answer 4

It will, but it will be rare.

Just a side note, if you installed "wine" to run windows program, there are chances that a windows virus can run and infect your computer. But since not many programs can run under wine, there will be not many virus as well.

Answer 5

its very unlikly to happen