what kind of viruses/malware can infect Linux

[tenzan]

Hello again everyone,
One of the advantages of using Linux is that there's far fewer viruses and other malware specifically targeting that OS. For example WannaCry exploited certain vulnerabilities in Windows, and many executables would only work under Windows. What sorts of malware are there that can infect different platforms?

Tenzan

[Mattyboy]

In all my years of using Linux I have never had or heard of anyone else who has ever had a virus/malware. That's not to say they don't or have never existed in the past. You've gotta do something really stupid to get one.

I would recommend that you search these forums for similar themed threads, there are hundreds and find out about good practice and added security measures available to you.... here's a search term worth looking into "firejail".

[Pjotr]

No worries. Be smart and don't reduce(!) your security by installing antivirus.

You might find this article interesting, that I've written about security in Linux Mint:
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinux ... t/security

[all41]

Hello tenzen,

I see you just recently became a member of the forums so welcome aboard.

Protection is a built-in feature of your Linux, that all important password which so many newcomers
find cumbersome.
This keeps code from executing without your knowledge and consent.
Be suspicious of password requests that are unexpected and not initiated by your intentional actions.

[jimallyn]

I have been using Linux for over 15 years, with no anti virus, and none of my Linux machines have ever been infected with any virus or malware. I have been active on Linux forums the entire time I have been using Linux (meaning I have been exposed to thousands of Linux users), and I don't know of anybody who has been infected. I have heard of one or two who had browser hijacks. Those are all self-inflected injuries, caused by clicking on something that shouldn't have been clicked on, like installing third party search tools, or clicking on something that says your computer is infected and offering to "fix" it. The browser hijacks can be fixed by removing the browser's .config file.

[tenzan]

Thanks for the welcome! As a more general question what viruses or other malware are out there that don't depend on a particular OS and can infect cross-platform?

Tenzan

[Pjotr]

Thanks for the welcome! As a more general question what viruses or other malware are out there that don't depend on a particular OS and can infect cross-platform?

Tenzan

None in the wild.

[Pepi]

Only viruses in my home are the ones I catch

[BenTrabetere]

What about Mokes and the Adwind RAT? I recall that both were cross-platform nasties that could hit Windows, macOS and Linux. I do not recall the delivery vector or how serious a threat it is to Linux.

[Pjotr]

What about Mokes and the Adwind RAT? I recall that both were cross-platform nasties that could hit Windows, macOS and Linux. I do not recall the delivery vector or how serious a threat it is to Linux.

Well, what about them? Creating a Linux virus (or cross-platform malware) is, and always has been, very easy.

The challenge would be, to make such a nasty thing become a realistic threat for the Linux desktop *in the wild*. Not seen any such thing yet.

[Pepi]

Not Linux BUT I had two credit cards get hacked yesterday Online Visa to Macy's and one Discover to Dell computer. Around 500.00 bucks total. I've got text alerts setup so I caught it right away. Now to worry about identity thief