If your computer shuts down without asking, if there are strange windows corrupted, if e-mail is sent to addresses in your address book without your knowledge, or if there are other suspicious activities, your computer probably has contracted a virus or some form of malware. The main reason that happens is that you are using Windows.

Linux viruses are almost non-existent. It is not impossible to get one. However, Linux makes this very unlikely to happen. Here are some reasons. Most people use Microsoft Windows, and the attackers want to cause as much damage as possible, or take control of the computer, so they seek Windows targets. Most viruses target Windows executable programs or ActiveX controls. Linux isn't affected by them because they are not designed to run on Linux. And, the downloaded file attributes must be changed before the file can be executable.

Linux uses intelligent file control permissions. On a Windows system, almost every program installed has privileges do almost anything within the system on the computer. Windows will not prevent you from deleting files in system folders. Obviously, doing this could cause problems. But if you can delete system files, you can be sure that other programs can do this as well, whether they are already installed on the computer, or on a local network, or the internet. Linux permissions do not allow this. In fact, every time you do something that affects the system, you are prompted for an administrator password. If you are not a system administrator, you cannot make system changes. So a virus, therefore, cannot modify the system without the root user's password.

Many eyes can see things that merely a few won't. This is especially true of security holes. Linux is open source software, which means that any programmer in the world may give an insight into the program's source code. They can, therefore, help fix security leaks and bugs in the program. They can also present their findings to other developers in the community.



Keywords:computer ,windows ,address book , knowledge, malware,Linux viruses , Linux ,Microsoft Windows, attackers,viruses target , ActiveX controls,downloaded file attributes,file control permissions,system folders, local network, internet, administrator password, system administrator, root user's password,security holes. Linux is, open source software,developers ,community.