I mean really bad. Something that kills the OS beyond repair and spreads everywhere without any chance to stop it. What would hurt us more, a Linux or a Windows virus?
I just finished an article for a SMB publication here in Switzerland about the importance of Linux and during the research I realised, that Linux is everywhere. Smart phones, switches, NAS, SAN and tons of other gadgets run on Linux. 90% of all Supercomputers use Linux and most virtualization platform’s, too. Android has the Linux 2.6 kernel and so on. For most database system Linux versions are available.
I think, that a Linux virus would hurt us much more, than a Windows Virus. There are replacement products for every Microsoft product, which would run on the same hardware, but not for Linux.
Steve Balmer once said, Linux is like cancer that spreads everywhere. He is probably right.
What do you think?
Tell me, which Linux products (or companies) do you know? I started the list:
Cisco
TomTom
Garmin
Citrix (Xen Server)
VMWare
Android
NetGear
Roland Keyboards
Yamaha
Hitachi
BMW
Bosch Car Entertainment
Airbus Inflight Entertainment
B&O
Sonos
IIRC BMW switched from Linux to MS-based stuff for iDrive back in 2006.
BMW is developing a Linux based infotainement system with other car makers.
http://www.bimmertoday.de/2011/02/08/bmw-1er-und-3er-erhalten-open-source-infotainment-auf-linux-basis/
You can boot Linux from readonly media without an install, so you can fight back. So while an attack has more surface, resillience is higher