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by Err on Tue 15th Jul 2003 16:56 UTC

""Linux has very few viruses in part because there aren't as many users, but mostly because its naturally more secure. Linux teaches you not to run as root.

If you dont run as root, you cant get a virus. Windows encourages you to run as Administrator. "" -Contrasutra

Hmm, and I suppose that the various package managers/installers never ask you to supply the root password to install these apps?

The user might not be running as root, it doesn't prevent them letting some other app run with root permissions by mistake. The Linux viruses of the future will be spread the same way as the Windows viruses of the present, by relying on the lack of knowledge of home users.