Security in OpenSuse: anti-virus and firewall configuration
 

Hi. First, I've red that Linux is almost completely virus-free for various reason (no privilege for non-root users, few users and viruses...). It can be a carrier, not infected. So, how to configure my connection so I can scan all files transfered? The problems are two:
1) I send emails. I would like these message would be almost completely virus-free
2) I have OpenSuse 10.2 AND WinXP installed (due for some programs), and I exchange files from Linux to Win. I want this files (maybe downloaded) not to be infected.

Second, now I'm connected to the internet and I would like to configure a firewall. I'm connected to a home network and haven't nothing precious to be hidden... but don't know what an intruder can do. I've to configure firewall? How can I do it?

(I know I've written this post as a monkey, but my english is not perfect and my knowledge on Linux at least...)

Thanks :)

PS I'm connected to the internet via a gateway and a wireless connection

Nik

Hey,

I believe there is a program called Avast Antivirus that you can get for Linux. You're correct, Linux can be a carrier but not infected. So, get this program and scan whatever files needed. Otherwise, somebody on the Windows end (yourself included) will be very mad at you otherwise. During the initial installation of SUSE, you can put up a firewall. After that, I'm not entirely sure how. Chances are it might be in YaST or in the system tools. Check it out.

Regards,

Brandon

Oh yeah, I know Avast, but also other programs, but my intent is to scan files ONLY for the operations listed. I don't know if Avast can, I use it in Windows and I know it scans everything moving in the system :)

Thx

Nik

You never know until you try. Get it and check it out. To my knowledge (I haven't researched this) I don't think there are a great deal of anti-virus programs for Linux. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a half dozen. Look it up on Google and see what happens. www.google.com/linux. The results are presorted for Linux, so it's a little bit faster.

Regards,

Brandon

Maybe would be useful a File Integrity Detection System, e.g. Samhain (http://www.la-samhna.de/samhain/) which can alert you for every modification to the filesystem at various levels.

Another Anti-Virus software for Linux is Clam Antivirus (http://www.clamav.net/) which - among the other things - can scan mail.

Well, surfing the net I've understood that best is install an antivirus (maybe clamav is the best, as some people say) for scanning files shared between my partition. Then configure properly my router firewall; in this way a local firewall is almost useless, so I haven't it to load and config.

Bye :)