I'm a little confused here. How are "viruses" different from "exploits" in Linux? The way I see it, they're the exact same thing. Although "exploit" makes it sound cool 😂

No difference really

@Linux Finally! Thank You!

@BlurryFace5178

The myth about "there is no viruses for Linux" is just plain stupid

I'm no expert in the security field (especially in terms of Linux), and please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a key-logger considered a virus? If so, a key-logger wouldn't necessarily be an exploit (assuming the method used for logging key strokes is not considered an exploit)

@Linux Someone needed to say this out loud

@VirtualProtect I have little to no idea. Maybe @Linux could enlighten us 😀

@BlurryFace5178
I do, because it is true.

An exploit is some issue with a system which allows some bad thing or other to happen.

A virus is a thing which does bad things, often by using an exploit.

@osmarks I wish I could upvote that twice. Clear, concise, and accurate!

So you would call a executable that has been modified to be hidden from Anti Virus programs an exploit?
IMO viruses do not need exploits to function (if you do not count the human aspect to it)

@pl4net no, I think a virus that hides from an antivirus(AV) program is just well-hidden (unless the virus itself uses an exploit in the OS, or the AV software. But, an exploit in the AV software wouldn't make sense since you'd have to find an exploit for every possible AV product)

Okay, so lemme get this straight. If a system has vulnerability, making use of that vulnerability is called an exploit. Whereas when an executable is so designed to harm others computer, its a virus. Both can be used to harm the system but usually virus perform malicious tasks whereas exploits just give access to the system or something non malicious. Its upon the user to decide what to do with the system access. Something like this? @osmarks @Haxk20 @pl4net @VirtualProtect @rantilicious

Viruses are implementations of exploits and exploits are vulnerabilities that can be taken advantage of to produce viruses or malware. In terms of iOS, a jailbreak is only achieved because of an exploit. A jailbreak is however much larger than a simple exploit.

@rantalicious this is the main difference the other commenters are missing