SUMMARY: AntiVirus software

Hello,

regarding AntiVirus software under Solaris/UNIX here's what the list told me.

Of the 12 answers I got basically everybody touched on two main points.
BTW: Thank you! This was exactly what we already tried to tell the managers.

  1) UNIX viruses (practically) don't exist. 
  2) The only reason to run AntiVirus SW on a UNIX machine would be in 
     such cases where the UNIX machine acts as a "data gateway", sharing files
     for other (more vulnerable platforms) like MS Windows. E.g.: mail gateways,
     FTP servers, or file servers (PCNFS or Samba). Even here, there's still
     no real threat to the UNIX system; the infected files only pose dangers
     to the MS clients which use the services provided by the UNIX systems.

Thanks to the respondents:

  From: Dave Mitchell [mailto:davem@fdisolutions.com] 
  From: Jason Santos [mailto:jason.santos@megaslow.net] 
  From: Mann Mike [mailto:Mike.Mann@uk.fujitsu.com] 
  From: Neil Quiogue [mailto:neil@quiogue.com] 
  From: Bonfieti Junior, Angelo [mailto:angelo.bonfietijunior@eds.com]
  From: jseymour@linxnet.com [mailto:jseymour@linxnet.com] 
  From: Angela.M.Burroughs@frb.gov [mailto:Angela.M.Burroughs@frb.gov] 
  From: steve rieger [mailto:steve.rieger@tbwachiat.com] 
  From: Tim Chipman [mailto:chipman@ecopiabio.com] 
  From: Michael Horton [mailto:Michael.Horton@acntv.com] 
  From: Palamara, Michael (MLIM) [mailto:Michael_Palamara@ml.com] 
  From: Rich Kulawiec [mailto:rsk@gsp.org] 

-----Original Message-----
From: Miller Alan 
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 9:57 AM
To: 'sunmanagers@sunmanagers.org'
Subject: AntiVirus software


Hello,

I'm sorry to have to ask this question here, but after not being able to
sufficiently convince our managers that "Viruses on UNIX" are not a real
threat (aside from scanning data coming through an FTP Server or sendmail),
I've been asked to get the "Solaris Community's" opinion abount AntiVurus
software on Solaris/UNIX.

Anybody have some good arguments for/against AntiVirus SW under UNIX?

Thanks,

--
Alan Miller	
is:energy  GmbH	
Unit Operations, Operating Systems - OPOO 	
Tresckowstrasse 3		
30457 Hannover		
Telefon: (0511) 439-4292		Telefax: (0511) 439-4226	
Email: alan.miller@is-energy.de	I-Net: <www.is-energy.de>
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