I've been reading about the growing popularity of Linux users installing anti-virus software to protect their networked Windows machines. It's all over Howto Forge, and I just can't really see the worth of Linux anti-virus software targeted at the home desktop user. My question is: Has anybody here ever passed a virus onto Windows from their Linux box?

No.

Not if you mean accidentally. Or on my own computer. *whistle*

nope I never have, that I know about.

I don't think so... I don't know if I ever passed on a virus on any machine. Though it's pretty likely I did.

I don't know, but I hope so. (Yes, I'm evil aren't I)

I didn't think so. Anti-virus still sounds pretty worthless on Linux. But hey, somebody prove me wrong.

If you receive files from the internet, email or a network or hard disk or a USB drive or by whatever means you are at risk of passing on a virus to Windows. Same as if you were transferring files from Windows to Windows. Just because your PC won't be affected doesn't mean that the virus is miraculously killed.

As a mere courtesy you should scan your files before sending them on.

Yes and from BSD as well.

I'm 99% certain I haven't transferred any infected files. I think, though, regardless of the operating system, that safe browsing habits are more valuable than antivirus software.
Always good advice. How would your Windows-using friend or customer feel if you copied an infected file onto their computer? Then you say: "It was infected? It didn't bother my machine?" There goes your credibility in the field.

I'll admit I rarely scan files from my Linux box. I always download from trustworthy sources, especially when someone else's computer is involved. When I do share files via email it's usually my own .doc files or camera pictures. Otherwise it's via usb disk and usually files from portableapps. The Windows systems I share with are usually my family so I'm able to keep antivirus up to date on their ends. I do have antivirus programs on my Linux boxes because you never know when you might need it. I've used them when hooking up a friend's already-infected hard disk to attempt recovery. And one time I did a full system scan because I got freaked out when mysterious typing appeared on my computer. My sister has the same cordless keyboard that I do and she was sitting in range of my receiver.