Cross-OS viruses?

[Mark Wolfe]

I get a ton of viruses on my linux mail server.  Of course, they are
ineffective, since yes, they have to exploit the host system.   If you
mean attack, as in try to exploit linux servers, yes, they don't care what
the server is.   I can show you tons of apache log entries from some sort
of IIS exploit.   Most guys like that haven't even tried linux, and are
basing it all on hearsay.   If Linux is as bad as he says, then why are
companies like IBM, and Novell betting the farm on it?   Why is there
http://linux.dell.com?  Yes, there are linux exploits, viruses won't live
long on a linux box.  Worst case is they nuke the user that ran it, and
are easily removed.  Exploits can get root, but if you are up to date,
it's not a problem.  Would this guy want to remove the linux server? 
What's it doing?  What would it cost to replace it?  ROI is very powerful
here.  Good Luck... :)

Mark



> A guy in the IT department at my work who (1) is anti-Linux (M$ tattoo
> on his butt and all) and (2) possibly not the shiniest pebble in the
> pond has told me that the recent viruses (AgoBot, Nachi/Nagi (sp?))
> attack both Linux and Windoze equally. I told him that I have never
> heard of a virus that wasn't specific to at least a family of OSs
> because the exploits have to be tailored for the OSs interior
> architecture.
>
> Can someone correct me fast if I'm wrong and point me to a pertinent
> URL? I'll probably have to defend the Linux server we got in here soon,
> and need ammunition.
>