VNUNet.com: Linux lined up as virus target (as 'Goner' spreads woe and a typo)

This item was written hot on the heels of 'Goner,':

"The onslaught of the Windows Goner worm warns us to watch for Christmas Grinches, but next year the warning may extend to Linux users as the operating system (OS) becomes more of a target.

'Of course we will see more and more attacks on Windows, but Linux will be a target because its use is becoming more widespread,' said Raimond Genes, European president for antivirus at Trend Micro. 'It is a stable OS, but it's not a secure OS.'

Jack Clarke, European product manager at McAfee, said: 'In fact it's probably easier to write a virus for Linux because it's open source and the code is available. So we will be seeing more Linux viruses as the OS becomes more common and popular.'"

Complete Story

SiliconValley.internet.com reports about Goner:

"A brand new worm slithering through the Web is getting passed by Microsoft Outlook home and businesses users and is so bad it has the potential of wiping out complete files.

Anti-virus experts at McAfee.com (NASDAQ:MCAF) identified the worm early Tuesday morning and have named it the Pentagone or "Goner" after its identification string W32/Goner@MM. The company assessed the virus as a HIGH risk - it's most serious rating.

Compared to other well known computer infections such as NIMDA, Code Red, Melissa and ILOVEYOU, McAfee says this is pretty serious stuff. "To coin a phrase from Star Trek - this is certainly an attempt to bring down the shields," says McAfee Security Architect Sam Curry. "It has the potential to be as destructive as the others, but it's still too early in the game and we won't see the full impact of this worm for some time. Unlike the Anna Kournikova virus that did one thing, this one is a hybrid virus that does a few things like deleting firewall and anti-virus files."

Related Stories:

• Linux Journal: Building an E-mail Virus Detection System for Your Network(Nov 20, 2001)
• SFGate: Code Blue: McAfee's Monopoly on Antivirus Software Could Prove Deadly(Aug 17, 2001)
• The Register: Risks from hybrid Linux / Windows virus low (Mar 28, 2001)
• Yahoo/Reuters: First Virus to Infect Both Windows, Linux Emerges(Mar 28, 2001)
• The Register: Virus plague causes charity to consider Linux(Mar 15, 2001)
• Enterprise Linux Today: F-Secure Anti-Virus for Firewalls on Linux released(Mar 07, 2001)
• AsiaBizTech: HP Japan Distributes Computer Virus from Web Site; Cause is Lax Linux Security(Jan 24, 2001)
• ZDNet: Virus patches aren't being applied(Jan 24, 2001)
• BBC News: Linux virus infection fears; Ramen hits Red Hat(Jan 18, 2001)
• F-Secure Virus Descriptions: Ramen - Alias: Linux.Ramen, LINUX/Ramen - Linux Worm(Jan 18, 2001)