this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2023
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So you found viruses, which debunks the claim in the OP, yet you remain skeptical they exist.
We're done here.
Please read my first few comments. I've talked about it and that's not what I said. I have found no viruses conforming to what I've clarified in my very first comment. I've also explained why it's important to differentiate. I have found things alike. But never the thing. If you twist my words enough and change the context, it would almost seem like I'm contradicting myself, yes. But you're the one twisting things around until you're right.
And why are you just now talking about that? Nearly every single comment of me starts right with a sentence that clarifies what I mean?
Frankly I don't care about whatever "metrics" you have made up to justify your ignorance.
Actually I have a better idea, please contact Linus Torvalds on Mastodon with your opinion that there aren't any viruses on Linux.
I will happily eat some popcorn while reading your eviceration.
For the record: I'm not the one changing the meaning of the word. I use it like in the definition. You're the one extending the meaning arbitrarily.
I think I'll just wait and see if some expert comes along and gives me my single example. If that doesn't happen I'm going to stick to my opinion: They exist in theory, but not in practice. And vulnerabilities and rootkits exist, but a vulnerability isn't automatically called a virus because those are different things.
https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/securing-debian-manual/ch08s08.en.html
To end with some more friendly words: I'm pretty sure some people are confusing the words 'malware' and 'virus'. Malware is the umbrella term. I've already admitted there is malware. For example the Mirai worm i think had affected hundreds of thousands of IoT devices (speaking of fire and forget embedded linux). And I've seen wordpress plugins with vulnerabilities and actual rootkits on webservers myself, as I told earlier. But I've also said in this context the distinction matters.