[Info-vax] Anti-virus ?

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 8/11/2023 8:31 AM, Simon Clubley wrote:
> On 2023-08-10, Arne Vajhøj <arne at vajhoej.dk> wrote:
>> On 8/10/2023 8:14 AM, Simon Clubley wrote:
>>> On 2023-08-10, Niels S. Eliasen <nse at eliasen.co> wrote:
>>>> Believe it or not...
>>>> but was asked by a customer yesterday: "What anti-virus software exist on OpenVMS ?"
>>>> Anyone that has knowledge of such a product for OpenVMS ?
>>>
>>> I don't see that as strange at all and it is a _very_ valid question
>>> for a customer to ask.
>>
>> If the calendar said 2003: yes.
> 
> No Arne, when it says 2023.

Not so sure.

>> Today the virus threat is a very small piece of the threats.
> 
> A couple of random search results for "anti-virus for linux":
> 
> https://www.safetydetectives.com/best-antivirus/linux/
> 
> https://www.security.org/antivirus/best/linux/
> 
> Note that the above includes when the malware is running on Linux itself,
> not just when Linux is being used as a host for Windows files.

Companies are still pushing AV for Windows. Companies are trying to
push AV for Linux and macOS. Companies are trying to push AV
for iOS and Android.

But that does not indicate that it is a serious threat today.

The indication for that is usage.

Very few Linux users run an AV program. Server or desktop.

Let us make a tiny poll:

Please reply to:

1) Do you run Linux desktop?
2) If yes - do you run AV software on it?
3) Do you run Linux server?
4) If yes - do you run AV software on it?

> Like I said, it is a _very_ valid question for the OP's customer to ask.

The question indicate that their security focus is 20 years behind.

> Oh, and anyone thinking that VMS can't have malware and will never be a
> target of interest in an organisation is deluding themselves.

It obviously can.

But it seems highly unlikely to be the method of attack
for a VMS system.

Arne