Author Topic: Virus on Linux? (Read 18684 times)

MariaCatherine · « **on:** May 01, 2015, 12:54:13 PM »

I thought Linux was the sure fortress against viruses, but maybe the problem is not a virus. Maybe it's something else.

I have Linux Debian. On certain sites (not gmail, for example) I get popups (which I understand, perhaps incorrectly, to be new pages opening with some kind of ad on them). This only happens in Chrome, never in Chromium. I would know what to do on windows, but not on Linux.

Thanks for any help.

PG · « **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2015, 03:48:59 PM »

Do you install the updates? I have linux debian 300-500mb, and I don't have any problems.

MariaCatherine · « **Reply #2 on:** May 02, 2015, 04:48:02 PM »

Yes, I do install all updates, including Chrome updates.

PG · « **Reply #3 on:** May 02, 2015, 09:21:11 PM »

That is interesting. I think the thing to do is check for a settings section on the browser you are using, and see if you can click something off so that popups don't happen. Chrome itself is somewhat virus free you could say, and it is possible it is introduced by them. I have had to do that on youtube with something.

Jehanne · « **Reply #4 on:** May 03, 2015, 07:15:36 AM »

It is difficult to get viruses on Linux distributions, provided that you are only installing software from Linux software stores, that is, the official Linux distribution centers. If you are going to questionable websites, you could always run Tails, which will provide a virtual environment:

https://tails.boum.org/

MariaCatherine · « **Reply #5 on:** May 03, 2015, 02:08:04 PM »

Quote from: + PG +

That is interesting. I think the thing to do is check for a settings section on the browser you are using, and see if you can click something off so that popups don't happen. Chrome itself is somewhat virus free you could say, and it is possible it is introduced by them. I have had to do that on youtube with something.

Thanks. I've always chosen the 'do not allow pop-ups' setting, but I thought I'd uncheck it, and then check it again. No improvement.

Quote from: Jehanne

It is difficult to get viruses on Linux distributions, provided that you are only installing software from Linux software stores, that is, the official Linux distribution centers. If you are going to questionable websites, you could always run Tails, which will provide a virtual environment:

https://tails.boum.org/

I did download Combofix, and AdwareCleaner, and NoscriptSecuritySuite, hoping one or the other would help, but I was only able to run Combofix. I've removed those now. Here's a question: Could a website have viruses in it, or do viruses only get into computers with some kind of software download?

I tried Tor when you recommended it a while ago, but I removed it because I was denied access to some sites that don't allow anonymous users.

I'll see how it goes now that I've removed those anti-virus downloads.

The problem is only on Chrome, which I only use so I can see videos people post on forums. In Chromium, where there's never any popups, instead of a video I just see an empty box that says 'plugin not supported'. If I could figure out how to get the plugin supported I'd be happy to just use Chromium all the time.

Jehanne · « **Reply #6 on:** May 03, 2015, 03:25:57 PM »

Most viruses are software Trojans -- either they trick you into opening a malicious program or they "piggyback" with some legitimate software. A few viruses are strictly data viruses -- in such cases, they exploit vulnerabilities in software programs without actually modifying the software code. Some viruses will come via malicious JavaScript or Java code (both unrelated to each other; see the Wikipedia article). Some viruses are not really viruses, but "worms," and once again, they exploit vulnerabilities within software, firmware and even hardware.

It's a complex subject and I'm not an expert. Use Debian or Ubuntu Linux and simply boot into virtual machines if you have concerns. Firefox is, in my opinion, the best browser in terms of security and privacy.

Matthew · « **Reply #7 on:** May 03, 2015, 10:44:11 PM »

A pop-up in chrome is not a virus.

Viruses generally require that you run some software.

If you keep your Linux installation up-to-date with the latest (free) software updates, you shouldn't have any problems.

A word to the wise: you should be able to live your online life without ever visiting sites with pop-ups. I'm what I would describe as a heavy internet user (a "power user" if you will), and I seem to have no problems avoiding the seedier side if the Internet.

A site that tries to do pop-up ads is certainly lower-end and probably not worth visiting.

There is a whole continent on the Internet made up of crappy sites that promise to give you something incredible, and have you jump through hoops for this or that ($500 gift card comes to mind). Pop-up ads are the BEGINNING of what these sites involve. Don't fall for these.

MariaCatherine · « **Reply #8 on:** May 04, 2015, 09:09:31 AM »

Quote from: Matthew

A pop-up in chrome is not a virus.

Viruses generally require that you run some software.

If you keep your Linux installation up-to-date with the latest (free) software updates, you shouldn't have any problems.

A word to the wise: you should be able to live your online life without ever visiting sites with pop-ups. I'm what I would describe as a heavy internet user (a "power user" if you will), and I seem to have no problems avoiding the seedier side if the Internet.

A site that tries to do pop-up ads is certainly lower-end and probably not worth visiting.

There is a whole continent on the Internet made up of crappy sites that promise to give you something incredible, and have you jump through hoops for this or that ($500 gift card comes to mind). Pop-up ads are the BEGINNING of what these sites involve. Don't fall for these.

Thanks, Matthew.

I've always installed Linux updates.

I've never been to any of the type of sites you describe. And as I said, the sites I got pop-ups with on Chrome didn't have pop-ups on Chromium.

MariaCatherine · « **Reply #9 on:** May 04, 2015, 09:28:31 AM »

And the sites I had the pop-ups with never had them before. Could it be the site was having temporary trouble but only in Chrome?

It might be too early to tell, but so far the problem seems to have been solved after having removed those downloads (combofix, etc.), and installing another Chrome update. Hope so, anyway.

MariaCatherine · « **Reply #10 on:** May 04, 2015, 09:52:07 AM »

It was indeed too early to tell. Just got a pop-up on cathoinfo.

Geremia · « **Reply #11 on:** May 04, 2015, 11:17:12 PM »

Quote from: MariaCatherine

This only happens in Chrome, never in Chromium.

Don't use Chrome; it's not 100% open source. Use Chromium; it's 100% open-source.

{I'm a Linux user (Slackware specifically), and I don't trust anything not 100% open source.}

MariaCatherine · « **Reply #12 on:** May 05, 2015, 08:05:34 AM »

Geremia, do you know how to resolve my problem of not being able to see videos posted on forums in Chromium? I only see 'plugin not supported'. Thanks.

Pelly · « **Reply #13 on:** May 08, 2015, 08:24:14 AM »

I think your browser might be hijacked to show those popups. Check its configurations or whatitiscalled.
Also, use Firefox or any variant of it. You can use Web or Midori, too.
Try to update your Flash Player - some browsers disable not-so-new versions of Flash and most Linux distributions don't upgrade their Flash Player versions so often (which means you have to upgrade it by hand, using the root account).

MariaCatherine · « **Reply #14 on:** May 08, 2015, 10:05:43 AM »

Quote from: Pelly

I think your browser might be hijacked to show those popups. Check its configurations or whatitiscalled.
Also, use Firefox or any variant of it. You can use Web or Midori, too.
Try to update your Flash Player - some browsers disable not-so-new versions of Flash and most Linux distributions don't upgrade their Flash Player versions so often (which means you have to upgrade it by hand, using the root account).

Thanks. The settings look normal. I'll have to figure out how to upgrade by hand.