Antivirus and Firewall

zaq12wsx · 11-09-2004, 11:04 AM

I'm new to linux (just installed RedHat Fedora yesterday) and am looking for a free personal firewall and free antivirus software. I've had people recommend Bastille and I've also had people tell me linux is already secure without a personal firewall. I would appreciate any advice, suggested programs, websites or articles to read that might help. Thanks in advance.

rjlee · 11-09-2004, 11:24 AM

Linux is not secure without a firewall. No more than Windows is, anyway. Most distos install a firewall by default these days; I don't know about Fedora though.

As for antivirus software, your best bet is probably ClamAV. Also, take a look at chrootkit; root kits are far more common than viruses in the Linux world.

Hope that helps,

—Robert J. Lee

Linux~Powered · 11-09-2004, 11:36 AM

Really there's no need for an antivirus in Linux

As for a firewall, if you don't know how to configure one using iptables you can get a GUI that can do it for you. Try http://firestarter.sourceforge.net/ If you want to be even more secure turn off any servics you arn't using in your /etc/inetd.conf. Just comment out the ones you arn't using with an # . When you are done find the PID of inted and kill it with...

Code:

kill -HUP numberofPID

Tinkster · 11-09-2004, 12:22 PM

I don't agree with that statement:

Quote:

Really there's no need for an antivirus in Linux

Even though you can't infect your box with 99.9999%
of all virii out there you can still accidentally pass them
on to others if you happen to share Office documents,
for instance. The stance you're taking is irresponsible :)

Cheers,
Tink

JaseP · 11-09-2004, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tinkster
I don't agree with that statement:

Even though you can't infect your box with 99.9999%
of all virii out there you can still accidentally pass them
on to others if you happen to share Office documents,
for instance. The stance you're taking is irresponsible

Cheers,
Tink

While that (being a "carrier") is true,... for those who don't "pass on" documents or files, there is little danger from viruses (virus is not a Latin word in modern usage, so Viruses is the plural of virus). There are only a relative handful of viruses that attack Linux, and most of them must be run manually by the user to suffer attack. Also, most viruses will only do as much destruction as the user account could do with his permissions... So again, little real threat.

Tino27 · 11-09-2004, 02:46 PM

Yes, but it is nice to be able to "quanantine" messages that have infected attachments so that you don't accidentally pass them on to others. The latest version of KMail even supports ClamAV such that it will create the processing and detection filters so that you can implement virus scanning on your e-mail with pretty little fuss.

zaq12wsx · 11-10-2004, 07:39 AM

Thanks for your replies, I will try ClamAV and try to figure out iptables. As soon as I figure out how to install ClamAV I will post an update on here.