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I keep hearing that Linux get not viruses. I have a question that is this true?

No, this is not true -- a Linux system can be infected by viruses. But hackers spend their time exploiting Windows machines as that is the mainstream OS. Also linux users tend to be smarter about the security of their machines.

On the other hand, it would be true to say that the number of viruses that infect Windows computers is astronomically higher than the number of Linux viruses. And on top of that, the viruses that do manage to infect Linux will be much less widespread than Windows viruses -- there has never been a single instance of a widespread Linux virus akin to those bi-monthly Windows worms that infect millions of computers.

This is due to Linux superior security architecture, and to the fact that people can actually find and fix security vulnerabilities in Linux without having to reverse engineer binaries.

So, while it's not true to say that Linux cannot be infected with viruses, it is true to say that Linux is far less likely to be infected, and if it is, then the damage will be much less significant.

I understand that the Linux system is less likely to be attacked, but I've often wondered - if I'm sent a file containing a virus and I don't have anti-virus software, then send it on to someone else, surely it will still contain the virus?

Yes.

and that is probably the primary reason to run an antivirus program, to protect others, even if you personally don't need it.

Ferrario500 wrote:I keep hearing that Linux get not viruses. I have a question that is this true?

LINUX / UNIX systems are subject to malware, the term "viruses" is most often used to describe Windows malware while the UNIX community has traditionally described their malware as "rootkits".

The good news is, LINUX has design advantages which reduces the frequency of rootkits versus the volume of Windows viruses. The bad news is LINUX rootkits are usually 100% devastating in their capabilities of remotely executing instructions while Windows viruses can vary in their abilities to cause damage and the percentage of full remote control Windows viruses has been declining year over year.

But, the kernel variations the LINUX community prides itself on, is another attack vector since seemingly similar one LINUX version may be vulnerable to a particular or purpose designed rootkit that its LINUX cousin could be immune to.

Funny quickie, a novice colleague of mine installed ClamAV onto Ubuntu based BackTrack which is a security / pen tester version and equipped with an arsenal of over 5,000 malware and even viruses to be fired against other systems.
ClamAV summarily identified the weaponry as malware and deleted entire directories off his box and almost rendered it unbootable ! The novice BackTrack user had essentially invited a pest exterminator to a dinner party of vermin and had to reinstall his entire box.