Pretty much every Linux user thinks they're immune to viruses, but they're wrong. Just recently, malware was found hidden inside an innocuous-looking Gnome theme from a reputable site.

Some time ago, the open source world was caught by surprise by the announcement of a malware for Linux, hidden in a screensaver for Gnome in gnome.look.org. Security in Linux (as with any operating system) is a matter of habit, then we will list some tips.

For the last couple of ubuntu versions, gnome-screensaver, which is also the gnome screen-locking program, has been using gtkbuilder .ui files for configuration; unfortunately almost all of the third-party themes (e.g. on gnome-look.org) use .glade files. Here's how to convert a .glade file to a .ui file for use with current versions of gnome-screensaver:

Yesterday we were the first to bring you the news about malware being targeted at Ubuntu users, and today, sadly, another malicious file was uploaded to gnome-look, this time masquerading as a theme called 'Ninja'.

Lifesaver it’s a screensaver for GNOME that displays recent posts about Ubuntu from Twitter and Identi.ca.

One popular screensaver in Ubuntu is “Floating Ubuntu”, which displays a number of Ubuntu logos floating around the screen.

I'm going to show you how to run a screensaver as the desktop wallpaper in the gnome desktop environment. You need to be using gnome and have the xscreensaver-data package installed in order to accomplish this task.

Most of us go away from our computers. When we do we don’t much care to come back to see our screen just the way we left it. We have been trained that a screensaver should take the place of our work or our play on our monitors. I have been asked numerous times “How do I have screensaver X on my Linux desktop?”

Okay, I lied right from the start with that title. Don’t get into thinking that you can get any real security out of this, as it is equivalent to a locking screensaver. In fact, this is just a screensaver add-on for GNOME. That said, it does prevent the occasional hyperactive child or devious coworker from messing with your desktop when you are away and forget to lock it.