We have a ubuntu sticky in this forum, but you knew that already :doh: You don't need anti-virus, spyware protection in Linux. You only need a firewall if you are sharing folders. If you want to install a firewall, look in the ubuntu sticky
Firewalls are usually a good thing to have although not necessary for a standard home system. I use one, but just for fun. I use fwbuilder with pf. Antivirus is not really needed but it can prevent you from spreading viruses to other (windows) machines. It's not a bad idea to install one anyway. F-Prot is an excellent free, but proprientary, AV and ClamAV is a good open source AV. Both will use the command line but don't be afraid, it's very simple to operate them.
Linux antivrus software is useful for detecting viruses if you're sharing data for other Windows computers, and so unless you need to do file sharing with Windows clients its pretty much a waste of resources. It won't stop a worm from spreading through the network to vulnerable Windows systems either.
For linux there are about 500 viruses, and the worst on downloads porn (so it's totaly harmless). And for sharing with Windows users don't give a damn...
Sorry, what you meant to say was 'for Linux there are about 0 viruses'. Some viruses were supposed to exist a few years ago, but none of them could infect without the user's input. Most Linux virus stories are just FUD from Redmond..
In any operating system in which the user has write and execute permissions for their home directory is vulnerable to "viruses" to some extent, this is not a limitation of the operating system, but simply a logical conclusion when you think that modifying the object code of a program is all thats needed to create a "virus". True, there have been some known Linux viruses, but none of these can do any damage to the core operating system if they don't have root permissions. Milanche, do you run programs as root apart from system administration? Probably not. The fact is that, just because it is possible for one program to modify the object code of another program doesn't mean that the OS is susceptible to viruses. The virus has to be able to write outside the user's home directory, and that is where the real security strength of Unix lies. Users don't get Linux viruses because Linux (AND GNU) is vulnerable, but because they are being stupid with a user account which has unlimited access to the system. I should say, that these viruses are not specific to Linux, most can "infect" BSD, Solaris etc as well. I would like to point out this from the ClamAV website: What are those malicous attachments for? Why Windows of course. An up to date Linux system is very secure, with systems like Debian, Ubuntu, Mandriva etc where there are a lot of contributors, and of course the entire GNU project developing the software, security vulnerabilities will be fixed at a faster rate than any worm writer. The whole thing is akin to saying "You need to wear a seat belt while inside a tank or riot control vehicle." Obviously, a seat belt isn't going to help there. Sure, if you decelerated at a rate of 200ms^-2 from 100km/h, but what kind of stupid driver does that speed in such a vehicle?
The fact is that Windows would be 70% more secure if people didn't run as Administrator all the time.
just when i thought i was getting the hang of ubuntu it messes up i was getting programs etc from the downloader and all was ok went on this morn and the grub had error 18 and wouldnt boot so had to reinstall it again any one no why this happens and if i can avoid it. cos its a pain in the ass .
right something weird has happened after this mornings events of the error 18 i put ubuntu back on but with a different cd(i bought linux format ubuntu special from WH SMITHS ) cost me a god damn tenner for a mag anyway installed that one and all my hdds are available and also now installed automatix and everything seems fine just weird how the hdds now work . all i did was do a clean up on each hdd in xp dont think that would of got them to work bit of a coincidence though lol. even got nvidia driver working as it installed through automatix. just wondering how to edit grub cos when it boots i get 2 ubuntu and 2 ubuntu(graphic safe mode) and xp now when i load the first ubuntu thats the error 18 one and wont work. so i could do with getting rid of it so it boots the working one if i forget to scroll down and select it .
its really sorted most things i need to get done too. just want to no how i can make sure i dont get errors loading in grub cos i cant be arsed reinstalling everything again if it does.
edit: sorry didn't see your previous post. you need to edit your /boot/grub/menu.lst file. Open up a terminal, and type Code: sudo nano /boot/grub/menu.lst you need to scroll down, until you get tothe menu entry which gives the error. Now you can either delete the menu entry, or you can comment it out but putting a '#' at the beginning of the lines.
right this is copyied from the terminal ## ## End Default Options ## title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-27-386 root (hd1,1) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-27-386 root=/dev/hdb2 ro quiet splash initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-27-386 savedefault boot title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-27-386 (recovery mode) root (hd1,1) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-27-386 root=/dev/hdb2 ro single initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-27-386 boot title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-23-386 root (hd1,1) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-23-386 root=/dev/hdb2 ro quiet splash initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-23-386 boot title Ubuntu, memtest86+ root (hd1,1) kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin boot ### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST # This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian # ones. title Other operating systems: root # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS # on /dev/hda1 title Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition root (hd0,0) savedefault makeactive chainloader +1 if i click on the top one or the recovery just below it then it errors so need them to go do i just delete them. i no u said but want to make sure so i dont mess it up also i read i could make the menu not pop up unless i press esc at a certain point can i do this from in here too.
## ## End Default Options ## # title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-27-386 # root (hd1,1) # kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-27-386 root=/dev/hdb2 ro quiet splash # initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-27-386 # savedefault # boot # title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-27-386 (recovery mode) # root (hd1,1) # kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-27-386 root=/dev/hdb2 ro single # initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-27-386 # boot title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-23-386 root (hd1,1) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-23-386 root=/dev/hdb2 ro quiet splash initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-23-386 savedefault boot title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-23-386 (recovery mode) root (hd1,1) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-23-386 root=/dev/hdb2 ro single initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-23-386 boot title Ubuntu, memtest86+ root (hd1,1) kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin boot ### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST does this look ok also how do i save it cos i just exit and went back on and they were there like before.
