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There was some malware found on Ubuntu recently. This malware was part of a screensaver that could be downloaded off of a popular site for Gnome themes and plugins. Does this mean that Ubuntu and Linux are now insecure like other operating systems?
First, look at the situation. It was from a site where anyone could upload anything they wanted to share with users. The upload was a debian package that could be run on the local system. In order to install packages to the Ubuntu system the user has to physically type into their password to allow it to run. Once it is allowed to run then and only then can it run.
This means that the user has to personally download, type in a password, and run a debian package in order for this type of malware to be installed into the system. There are quite a few steps to take to do this. It is as likely that a novice user will go through all these steps as it is that they will delete an important file and ruin their system.
If you want to stay completely safe, follow these steps to protect yourself.
Do not install random software you find on the internet. Stay with official Ubuntu packages if you want to be 100% sure that you will not have any problems. It is rare that you will ever run into a malicious package, but there is a very small chance.
If you do download a debian package that is not part of the official Ubuntu packages, do some basic research on what you are installing. If someone else has positive reviews about the software, it is very likely that it is safe.
Do not ever paste in random code into your terminal if you are not sure what it is actually doing to your machine.
About this Author
Leo has been writing articles online for nearly 4 years now. He also publishes reviews of various consumer products. Come visit his latest websites that review Online Income Flood [http://www.onlineincomeflood.net] by Steven Johnson & Steven James and Slide In Code [http://www.slideincodereview.net] by Sean Clark.
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