Chkrootkit
Software

chkrootkit (Check Rootkit) is a Unix-based program intended to help system administrators check their system for local signs of known rootkits. It is a shell script using common UNIX/Linux tools like the strings and grep commands to search core system programs for signatures and for comparing a traversal of the /proc filesystem with the output of the ps (process status) command to look for discrepancies.
It can be used from a rescue disc (typically a live CD) or it can optionally use an alternative directory from which to run all of its commands. These techniques allow chkrootkit to trust the commands upon which it depends a bit more.
There are inherent limitations to the reliability of any program that attempts to detect compromises (such as rootkits and computer viruses). Newer rootkits may specifically attempt to detect and compromise copies of the chkrootkit programs or take other measures to evade detection by them.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Chkrootkit”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Chkrootkit en Linux.png by Swicher (Mi pagina de usuario), GPL
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