From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Fri Sep 5 10:07:29 2003 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 78BC916A4BF for ; Fri, 5 Sep 2003 10:07:29 -0700 (PDT) Received: from out006.verizon.net (out006pub.verizon.net [206.46.170.106]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id E8B9D43FBF for ; Fri, 5 Sep 2003 10:07:22 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from leblanc@keyslapper.org) Received: from keyslapper.org ([68.160.1.150]) by out006.verizon.net (InterMail vM.5.01.05.33 201-253-122-126-133-20030313) with ESMTP id <20030905170721.RWIK5302.out006.verizon.net@keyslapper.org> for ; Fri, 5 Sep 2003 12:07:21 -0500 Received: from keyslapper.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by keyslapper.org (8.12.8p1/8.12.8) with ESMTP id h85H7NUc045118 for ; Fri, 5 Sep 2003 13:07:24 -0400 (EDT) (envelope-from leblanc@keyslapper.org) Received: (from leblanc@localhost) by keyslapper.org (8.12.8p1/8.12.8/Submit) id h85H7NIZ045117 for freebsd-questions@freebsd.org; Fri, 5 Sep 2003 13:07:23 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2003 13:07:23 -0400 From: Louis LeBlanc To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Message-ID: <20030905170723.GE88839@keyslapper.org> Mail-Followup-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org References: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit In-Reply-To: User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.4i X-Authentication-Info: Submitted using SMTP AUTH at out006.verizon.net from [68.160.1.150] at Fri, 5 Sep 2003 12:07:21 -0500 Subject: Re: virus scan programs X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list Reply-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Fri, 05 Sep 2003 17:07:29 -0000 On 09/05/03 09:32 AM, Lee_Shackelford@dot.ca.gov sat at the `puter and typed: > Dear freeBSD enthusiast, > Greetings. I am a newcomer to the BSD/Unix world. My place of > employment is a large agency with thousands of client machines. Most of > the clients use Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional operating system. Most > of the servers use either Novell operating system, or I.B.M. Domino > operating system. A very important ritual that each client computer > performs every morning at boot-up time is to run a virus scan application > program. This program is run whether or not the user desires it, because > it runs before the user us granted a log-on screen. In my reading of Unix > and BSD literature, I have found no mention of virus scan programs for > these operating systems. Do such programs not exist? Alternately, is the > Unix/BSD approach to this problem in a different philosophical and/or > procedural sphere? If so, could you describe the Unix/BSD approach to > locating and eradicating these invaders of one's hard drive? If the issue > is already explained in either printed literature, or posted at a world > wide web site, it is sufficient to cite the location. Many thanks for your > response. Viruses . . . virii? whatever, are pretty much Bill Gates' gift to the world. For the most part, Unix operating systems have continued to deprive the world of their joy in spite of their overwhelming popularity. The problems with *nix operating systems is more one of security and administration. It is easy to leave back doors open that would allow unscrupulous individuals to wreak havoc on or through your system. Some examples include telnet service, open ports that are not used or needed, and OPEN MAIL RELAYS (yes, I am a card carrying spam hater). Of course, these are pretty straightforward security issues, and typically easily closed or controlled. Not like the old MS BackOrifice security problems or the new mail features that allows anyone on the internet to execute code on your system before you know what's happening. I'd recommend starting with this: http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/index.html Chapter 3 will give you the Unix basics. If you get a chance, 'The Complete FreeBSD' by Greg Lehey is very good. Better than good, in fact. It explained a lot of things clearly for me that even the protocol specific books couldn't make me understand - like caching dns servers, which I never could get running, even with the online handbook. Can't wait to get my own copy. HTH Lou -- Louis LeBlanc leblanc@keyslapper.org Fully Funded Hobbyist, KeySlapper Extrordinaire :) http://www.keyslapper.org ԿԬ hacker, n.: A master byter.