does anyone know of any?? Is there a website that tracks linux virus's? & is there really any point (even in coprate environment) for virus protection on a linux machine?

I guess that each virus based on html things, redirecting your browser to a site which donloads things you don't want, should work exactly the same way on linux...
The cookies should work the same way, etc...
I guess the only real difference is that that there is a firewall on linux.

There are lots of corporate virus protection packages out there but 99% of them focus on windows / mac viruses in files on a Linux based file server. Linux virii do exist but they're rare. There are a number of reasons for this:

1. To do any real damage you'd have to have root access.
2. Linux still requires a (moderately) technically sophisticated user. This means most patches, and security holes are fixed quickly.
3. There are an awful lot of programmers using linux, so any security hole can be fixed quickly.

Since most of the big virii / worms out there bank on the fact that either the security hole hasn't been patched (MyDOOM, SoBig), or that the patch hasn't been applied (?Sven?) most viruses never have a chance to catch on, another reason why they're so rare.

also (tho i doupt its good) is that each linux system can have completely difrent programs then the system teh virus was made for, so this small incostancy (like some people use gnome, others use kde, some xfce, and others just like to do it themself (get WM like enlightment, and such), even teh gnu part of the system can chagne from one computer to another, one computer might have bash, another migh use some other shell thats not remotly related), some systems have compiling tools some dont, some systems have librarys that others dont, basicaly the one hard part of a linux system can actualy in the end help keep it safe (a virus writing to break in thru apache web server for example and for some reaosn comiles itself, if it found a system with no compiler it would be dead in the watter, most hime users dont need (so tehy shouldent have) apache installed, the only real viruses and such u should be carful of is internet cookies and unautheriezed downloads (i dont think its a real problem if everything is set up right), just have that iptables firewall on tho when ur on teh web, jsut in case

I asked this same question when I got started about 4 months ago...

nearly everyone told me that it is not necessary if you use GNU only software (as opposed to comercial/cost products) and avoid careless behavyor like logging in as root everyday, etc.

do a search on this board and you will find many threads (see links below).

having said all that, I use f-prot (www.f-prot.com) to run a daily scan on our single server, and a scan every two minutes on our incoming ftp directory. the free product is command line only, while the fee based product has an on access component and email services...

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http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ight=antivirus

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ight=antivirus

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ight=antivirus

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ight=antivirus

Well i did do a search on anti-virus.. but my main question was. Is there any known linux virus'. I think what SciYro said hits what i was looking for. Im curious if any network admins out there in a unix or linux environment run anti-virus on their client machines as well?? any of you guys out there?

Every once in a while a worm or something will come out. So they are out there. However, the solution is generally to watch the security related mailing lists and downloading a patch -- not antivirus software.

-Dan