Bliss (virus)
Encyclopedia
Bliss is a computer virus
that infects Linux
systems. When executed, it attempts to attach itself to Linux executable
files, to which regular users do not have access. In the case of the alpha version, this prevents the executables from running, so users notice it immediately. Although it was probably intended to prove that Linux can be infected, it does not propagate very effectively because of the structure of Linux's user privilege system. The Bliss virus never became widespread, and remains chiefly a research
curiosity. Its source code
was posted on the Usenet
newsgroup [news:comp.security.unix comp.security.unix] by its author Chuck Berg (also known as "Firebug") on February 5, 1997. It is noted that he created the virus for his girlfriend Riley Kathleen Doughan (who is also the youngest female in the US to be arrested for computer hacking at age 13) and named it after her cat Bliss. After the Staog
virus it is the second known Linux virus.
When the Bliss virus was released, antivirus software
vendors and Linux distributions released security advisories to notify users of the potential risks. Debian
still lists itself as vulnerable to the Bliss virus however due to the requirement for infection to occur under the root user the risk is listed as minimal.
Computer virus
A computer virus is a computer program that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, including but not limited to adware and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability...
that infects Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
systems. When executed, it attempts to attach itself to Linux executable
Executable
In computing, an executable file causes a computer "to perform indicated tasks according to encoded instructions," as opposed to a data file that must be parsed by a program to be meaningful. These instructions are traditionally machine code instructions for a physical CPU...
files, to which regular users do not have access. In the case of the alpha version, this prevents the executables from running, so users notice it immediately. Although it was probably intended to prove that Linux can be infected, it does not propagate very effectively because of the structure of Linux's user privilege system. The Bliss virus never became widespread, and remains chiefly a research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
curiosity. Its source code
Source code
In computer science, source code is text written using the format and syntax of the programming language that it is being written in. Such a language is specially designed to facilitate the work of computer programmers, who specify the actions to be performed by a computer mostly by writing source...
was posted on the Usenet
Usenet
Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It developed from the general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name.Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979 and it was established in 1980...
newsgroup [news:comp.security.unix comp.security.unix] by its author Chuck Berg (also known as "Firebug") on February 5, 1997. It is noted that he created the virus for his girlfriend Riley Kathleen Doughan (who is also the youngest female in the US to be arrested for computer hacking at age 13) and named it after her cat Bliss. After the Staog
Staog
Staog was the first computer virus written for the Linux operating system. It was discovered in the fall of 1996, and the vulnerabilities that it exploited were shored up soon after...
virus it is the second known Linux virus.
When the Bliss virus was released, antivirus software
Antivirus software
Antivirus or anti-virus software is used to prevent, detect, and remove malware, including but not limited to computer viruses, computer worm, trojan horses, spyware and adware...
vendors and Linux distributions released security advisories to notify users of the potential risks. Debian
Debian
Debian is a computer operating system composed of software packages released as free and open source software primarily under the GNU General Public License along with other free software licenses. Debian GNU/Linux, which includes the GNU OS tools and Linux kernel, is a popular and influential...
still lists itself as vulnerable to the Bliss virus however due to the requirement for infection to occur under the root user the risk is listed as minimal.