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Now Linux Can Get Viruses, Via Wine

Posted by timothy on from the many-humans-do-the-same dept.

fsufitch writes "Wine has advanced enough to make Linux not immune to Windows viruses. However, just like many Wine applications, it takes a bit of effort to get the program off the ground. Also, just like some Windows programs running via Wine, not all features may work — in this case, the crippling of the system, immunity to the task manager, identity theft, etc."

14 of 343 comments (clear)

  1. Re:marketshare by MadFarmAnimalz · · Score: 3, Funny
    Haven't it always been pretty clear that Wine could run Microsoft Office, as long as they don't use some weird low-level tricks (which admittedly it does)?

    But for that matter, Linux doesn't have MS Office only because it's desktop share is next to nothing (not the same amount atleast, there are Linux office suites out too). Mac OSX has been getting more and more office suites lately as it's marketshare has been growing. So would Linux aswell if it ever gained more users.

    As long as the OS isn't completely locked down from the user, there will be office suites. Windows, Mac, or Linux cant defend you from that. But none of us really want a locked down OS. And as long as the users are stupid their computers will get infected.

    It's just about the marketshare.

    FTFY

    --
    Blearf. Blearf, I say.
  2. Just waiting for this e-mail by fluch · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is a lonesome linux virus. Please add

    deb http://malware.server.ru/debian experimental non-free

    to your /etc/apt/sources.list and excecute "apt-get my-first-virus" as root. Thank you very much vor your cooperation.

    1. Re:Just waiting for this e-mail by sakdoctor · · Score: 4, Funny

      non-free?

      I only install FLOSS malware.

    2. Re:Just waiting for this e-mail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Me too, I won't compromise my freedom just to be part of a botnet.

      Free alternative: http://www.gnu.org/fun/jokes/evilmalware.html

    3. Re:Just waiting for this e-mail by ozamosi · · Score: 2, Funny

      This is a lonesome linux virus. Please add

      deb http://malware.server.ru/debian experimental non-free

      to your /etc/apt/sources.list and excecute "apt-get my-first-virus" as root. Thank you very much vor your cooperation.

      Yeah, I run Fedora...

  3. Linux on a bender by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    What do you expect when Linux gets drunk on Wine and wakes up with Windows it's bound to have caught something.

  4. Hooray! by Greyfox · · Score: 1, Funny

    It's like I used to not be able to get herpes, AIDS or the flu and NOW I CAN! Thanks, wine team!

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

  5. That's the problem with Wine... by Interoperable · · Score: 4, Funny

    I always have to configure the programs so much before they run. It really defeats the purpose of a virus if I have to configure it so much first. Once Linux can run Windows viruses with a one-very-poorly-chosen-click install process I might make the switch. Besides, I can just run my FOSS software under Windows and still have access to all of the proprietary viruses that are only made for windows.

    --
    So if this is the future...where's my jet pack?
  6. Malware rise by gmuslera · · Score: 2, Funny

    Thousands of Linux systems now are running windows virus. That new improvement in Wine made a lot of Linux users to intentionally install the last wine version and browse dangerous places using IE6 under it to see if they get lucky and get some virus. "I'm excited", said one linux user, "i managed to get 3 different virus, a worm, and you wont believe, my machine is now part of a botnet! Woohoo!".

  7. Re:marketshare by zmollusc · · Score: 5, Funny

    If I was teh evil malwares writer, I would target OSX as its users have piles of cash. The trick would be to make your pop-up so beautifully coloured, shaded, animated and raytraced that the style-obsessed mac user would fill in his credit card details immediately.

    --
    They whose government reduces their essential liberties for temporary security, receive neither liberty nor security.
  8. Re:marketshare by Nerdfest · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah ... but dancing bunnies .... it is a tough call.

  9. Re:marketshare by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I should clarify that "hacked by a google search" is in reference to the fact that he used google to find the vulnerable service on my server, then proceeded to actually attack me using said vulnerability.

    Sorry, I just realized how silly that sounded...

  10. sWine Flue by jdc18 · · Score: 2, Funny

    lets call it swine flue. Oh wait the name is taken

  11. Re:Windows virus needs help to limp onto WINE by hairyfeet · · Score: 5, Funny

    You want to know why Linux don't get viruses? You don't get the "Velma" users, that's why. I have a customer we have nicknamed the "walking disaster area" because she will click on ANYTHING that pretends to be a screensaver or comes from one of her friends email addresses, I don't care if the antivirus tries to throw itself between her and the .exe. Just as I had a customer that you could send him ANYTHING with the word 'lesbian" in it, and he would do what? yep, he would run it. .Exe, .VBS, you name it, all it had to do was have lesbian somewhere in the title.

    So don't worry, you Linux guys get the "Velma" users I'm quite sure your good friends in Nigeria, the RBN, and China will be cooking up "happy_screensaver.sh" and "hot_lesbians_vid.sh" and the clueless will happily run it and spread bugs like the clap. Trust me, as a PC repair guy for more years than I care to count a good 999/1000 Windows bugs can be traced back to PEBKAC.

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    ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.