do i need one and which free one do you recommend?
You never need anti-virus. You need common sense.
Once you have common sense you will never get another virus.
3 Likes
It is entirely unnecessary on linux. There are very few people who would write linux viruses and the OS is ridiculously secure.
The best antivirus program in the world (as used by Google etc...) is linux-only. It's called ClamAV, and is free and open source, and taps into all the virus defs in the world and into Google's malware database. However, it's only used to repair Windows systems with and to clean e-mail coming from Windows machines before sending them to other Windows machines.
There may be malware for linux, but it just can't work because of the linux permissions system. Only dumbass users that would use their system with root rights all the time or would compile iffy unknown software with root rights, etc... can actually risk functional malware on their system.
The entire Java exploit botnet that was just in the news is a typical example. The exploit is also in the linux versions of java, because java is just java, but no linux machine, whether PC or android phone, has fallen victim to the exploit, because of the inherent safety of linux systems. At the same time, there were over 8.5 million Windows PC on the first day of the botnet deployment infected and hijacked... qed
2 Likes
cools thank you
1 Like
Just ClamAV and something like rktoolkit. ClamAV is mostly for sanitizing Windows viruses and rktoolkit tends to issue out a lot of false-positive warnings.
1 Like
I heard great things about Sophos anti-virus. As others said, it is pretty much impossible to get a virus. As much as impossible as getting sick of off touching a table that was cleaned with a cleaner that cleans up 99.9% of germs. So it is possible to get one but the chances are very slim. The only thing Linux users need to worry about are Zero day attacks and code vulnerabilities.
Sophos link:
https://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/free-tools/sophos-antivirus-for-linux.aspx
But if you really want security use BSD, because who uses BSD? /s
1 Like
Cross-platform protection from malware infecting host, Mac or Windows systems.
There is a free 30 day trial too.
$39.99/year
Yeah i was just looking into that sophos av the other day. Looked to be more for linux servers though.
Clam AV even has a GUI front end you can add which makes it easier. That's all I needed.
You don't need antivirus........until your married....then it is OUR computer:).....Look Honey, it plays candy crush really FAST:)
2 Likes
LOL theres a Symantec Endpoint Protection for it but thats for the enterprise world and enterprise level management of firewalls
TBH SElinux is probably the best route that and being behind a PFsense fire wall...
The only reason to get it is if windows machines are touching your storage
This topic is allmost 2 years old.