portableLinuxApps

[Forester]

OK, so how do you know what's in 'em?

That's a difficult question to answer. The files appears to be an executable application but presumably they have something resembling a bunch of files packed inside but dinosoep cannot simply assert that it is like knoppix-data.img. There are plenty of examples of a single file containing a bunch of others - a .msi installer for Windows for example. To understand what is inside would, I fear, require a knowledgeable examination of the source of the software used to create these files.

You may find it absurd, another might find it handy.

utu's concern over viruses is commendable. dinosoep's attitude to viruses is deplorable. Any security, not just under Linux, assumes care is taken in bringing in things from the outside. In the end you take responsibility, which is better than it used to be under other operating systems where stuff was being download all the time without your knowledge and consent all in the name of 'convenience'.

Ignorance and carelessness, and the 'convenience' that these in combination offer, are the main reason for the spread of viruses.

so writing a platform specific virus would really be stupid.

Yes, dinosoep, viruses etc. designed to attack Windows systems won't run in Linux systems and, yes, there are not that many viruses designed to attack Linux (yet) but many viruses are targeted at cross platform environments: flash is the worst but java and others are vulnerable too. At one time word documents with a malicious macro inside were popular. A one-click Firefox with a mailicous plug-in installed could be just as dangerous. At least I don't know otherwise and I'm not going to assume so just because it's 'handy'.

There are way to little linux users out there

Anyone who believes that no one can be bothered to attack Linux systems is invited to read this article from only three days ago: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03...server_hacked/.

Second of all, it's as dangerous as installing a new package. If you don't trust it, then don't install it.

Nonsense. You really don't know what goes on underneath Synaptic.

At issue here is that dinosoep will soon have made enough posts to earn the title "Senior Member", which "Junior Members" might take mean he writes with some authority. Even when he later qualifies what he writes with:

Again it's just my opinion

IMHO ... The authors of viruses aren't pranksters these days and they aren't after your bank account details. They want, at some point in the future, to use your PC, in conjunction with many others, to mount cyber attacks on some worthy target. The attack might be traced back to you but no further. Although you should eventually be proven innocent and irresponsible you might want to consider the expense and inconvenience that might occasion.

AFAIK ... Under Unix and Linux, the distinction between users and the superuser is the basis of much of the system's security. As a user, you and malicious software, can only do limited damage. As root, you and malicious software can do anything. Knoppix, with its blanket sudo without password, is about as secure a Windows 98 was.

I really like the concept and the lowered chance of screwing something up

Last time we touched on this, dinosoep had even turned off the notification that some background process had assumed root privileges. Some may think dinosoep is a bigger danger to his own system that any virus but he is still learning. Taking security seriously is just another lesson to learn the hard way.