D&C GLug - Home Page

[ Date Index ] [ Thread Index ] [ <= Previous by date / thread ] [ Next by date / thread => ]

Re: [LUG] Anti Virus?

 

The appropriate way to address corruption of system files is some sort
of file fingerprinting.

There are a host of these, tripwire being the grand daddy.

These detect malware, accidental, or deliberate malicious changes to
configuration. Useful for finding out when a colleagued has fiddled in
your absence.

The argument against traditional antivirus pattern matching, is there
are potentially an infinite number of bad files all struggling to be
different and not recognised, but a finite number of files on your system.

You could learn to identify crooks by learning what all convicted
criminals look like and stop them entering your house, or you could
choose to only let people you trust into your house and worry if you
find one who you didn't knowingly admit.

It is possible for malware to exist, that is not written to disk (or at
least not in a conventional fashion). And I think it not unreasonable to
flag up unusual events, with some sort of intrusion detection software.
Most firewalls will do the basics of this for you, if you make them log
blocked packets (originating from inside the network).

-- 
The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG
http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list
FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html