Does Linux need any antivirus software installeD?

Question

Does Linux need any antivirus software installeD?

Answer 1

2

Answer 2

Install Redhat Linux firewalls.

Answer 3

Antivirus? No no and no. You are thinking too much in Windows terms. Whatever viruses that may exist on a mac or linux they need FILE PERMISSIONS to infect your computer in Windows they will AUTOMATICALLY get file permissions so they will automatically infect your computer. To counteract this Windows uses an army of software : antivirus antipsyware etc.



Linux on the other hand relies on powerful and strict use of file permission os EVEN if you downloaded a viruse it would not HAVE THE CAPACITY TO INFECT YOUR COMPUTER unless you enter the root account and execute the file



LInux is so secure that of the top 500 computers on the plantet ONLY 5 run Windows.



There are many things too learn and fix in linux VIRUSES are not one of them



Enjoy and welcome to linux



RICK

Answer 4

Virus that can affect Linux and MACs. Read those at the Link below. And yes you should run anti virus programs with Linux. Use Clam Anti virus software.



Trojans



* Kaiten - Linux.Backdoor.Kaiten trojan horse

* Rexob - Linux.Backdoor.Rexob trojan



Viruses



* Alaeda - Virus.Linux.Alaeda

* Bad Bunny - Perl.Badbunny

* Binom - Linux/Binom

* Bliss

* Brundle

* Bukowski

* Diesel - Virus.Linux.Diesel.962

* Kagob a - Virus.Linux.Kagob.a

* Kagob b - Virus.Linux.Kagob.b

* MetaPHOR

* Nuxbee - Virus.Linux.Nuxbee.1403

* OSF.8759

* Podloso - Linux.Podloso

* Rike - Virus.Linux.Rike.1627

* RST - Virus.Linux.RST.a

* Satyr - Virus.Linux.Satyr.a

* Staog

* Vit - Virus.Linux.Vit.4096

* Winter - Virus.Linux.Winter.341

* Winux (also known as Lindose and PEElf)

* ZipWorm - Virus.Linux.ZipWorm



Worms



* Adm - Net-Worm.Linux.Adm

* Adore

* Cheese - Net-Worm.Linux.Cheese

* Devnull

* Kork

* Linux/Lion

* Mighty - Net-Worm.Linux.Mighty

* Millen - Linux.Millen.Worm

* Slapper

* SSH Bruteforce



There seems to be others also.

Answer 5

I have never heard of a virus on Linux (though I'm sure there is one). You would probably have to try very hard to get a virus on Linux, but I would say it's 99% safe to use Linux without antivirus.

Answer 6

Yes it does (it depends more on your habits than on the OS you use) and ClamAV is the best AV for Linux.

Answer 7

It is totally safe to have no antivirus installed on Linux, but I would highly recommend that you setup rules for iptables (your firewall) or use a GUI like Firestarter to do it for you.



If you would like to have an antivirus, then I recommend ClamAV. It is a command line antivirus scanner. If you would like a GUI for it, then download Clamtk as well.



iptables guide -

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/IptablesHowTo



Firestarter (GUI for iptables)

http://www.fs-security.com/



Firestarter can be downloaded from the repositories (your package manager).



*****************



The so called viruses listed below were either proof of concept viruses (harmless) or old ones that no longer work; none of which were ever wide spread, very few (like 30 people to each virus) were ever effected by them. It is far more important for you to setup a firewall.