Linux - A Tempting Target for Malware?

The Linux operating system is not immune to virus Free Trial. Security Software As A Service From Webroot. infections, although Linux-specific viruses are extremely rare. Linux servers face more risk of virus attack than Linux desktops.

That said, IT security and control firm Sophos Latest News about Sophos recently issued a warning about potential virus infections targeting Linux servers that could pose risks to the Linux operating system. Sophos researchers warned Linux users of the importance of properly securing their Linux systems following findings from SophosLabs that a 6-year-old threat known as "Linux/Rst-B" is still infecting computers and servers.

Analysis of malware has shown almost 70 percent of the infections are due to this longstanding malicious program, according to Sophos. SophosLabs offers a free download of a small detection tool available here to help Linux users find out whether they are unwittingly infected with this virus. However, this detection tool does not provide automatic removal.

"Self-replicating viruses are not seen as a significant threat on the Linux platform. We decided to detect Linux/Rst-B since most of the hacking-related malware we found on our honeypots were infected with this virus. Therefore, the presence of Linux/Rst-B on a server implies that the server has been hacked into," Billy McCourt, malware researcher at SophosLabs, told LinuxInsider.