Does ubuntu need anti-virus
 

I am a newby and was trying out Frost-wire for the first time. I was always under the understanding that linux / Ubuntu needed no anti-virus. I was on Frost-wire 1 time for about an hour. My internet started running slowly,mouse cursor would move but could not click on anything, would drag open windows 1" and window would float off to edge of screen, address bar at bottom would jump to opposite side of screen when cursor placed over it. It seemed like a virus to me which i would get over and over when on the windows OS. I strictly run Ubuntu now and would like to know if an anti-virus or equivalent is needed. I read everywhere that it is not, but as Linux grows, so does the haters. I remedied my problems by doing an uninstall / re-stall. Please inform me of good Ubuntu protective software or devices......Thankyou

Doesn't sound like a virus to me as there are so many variables for a virus to consider to be a pain in the ass like that... head towards your terminal, enter the command 'top' look for applications that might be leaking memory, depending on how much memory your computer has and how much ram your graphics has as this might be more to the issue at hand..


I personally don't use a virus scanner as linux operating systems are so rarely targeted for viruses nor have many \ any security holes, but if you want one to protect your windows operating systems possibly connecting via samba I would recommend clamav, Its a great simple AV for command line...Its graphical user interface counterpart, I have never used nor seen XD Should be a good place to start if your thinking 'virus'...

Chances are it was a hiccup in the DE, I've never found Ubuntu to be amazingly stable or reliable. Unless you went around browsing the web and downloading codes as root, it's highly unlikely that it was a virus. Keep up with your software updates, and if it's a bug it should be resolved shortly.

1) Download Debian
2) Install Debian
3) Problem solved. :)

That doesn't seems to be any virus.
Anti-virus software does exist for Linux, but you probably do not need to use it. Viruses which affect Linux are still very rare. Some argue that this is because Linux is not as widely used as other operating systems, so no one writes viruses for it. Others argue that Linux is intrinsically more secure, and security problems which viruses could make use of are fixed very quickly.
Whatever the reason, Linux viruses are so rare that you do not need to worry about them at the moment.
If you want to be extra-safe, or if you want to check for viruses in files that you are passing between yourself and people using Windows and Mac OS, you can still install anti-virus software. Check in the Ubuntu Software Center where a number of applications are available.
And also check these posts by others:
http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/does-ubun...irus-software/
http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-564776.html
http://askubuntu.com/questions/33227...-an-anti-virus

The main reason why AV exists in Linux is to scan windows partitions and email attachments that may infect a Windows OS.

ClamAV is nice too. It runs from a terminal, and doesn't slow your system down like a lot of the Windows AV programs do.

lol, just what I would have said.

To the OP, no you don;t need an AV in Linux. What you do need is to be smart about the internet. Don't go to suspect sites, don't just download and install software that is not in official repositories unless you trust it, don't go doing things that "Windows" users normally do, don't run as root unless you absolutely need to and don't go on the internet as root.

This is the Linux equivalent to Australia's Slip Slop Slap campaign against skin cancer. Be careful and you'll be ok, go out into the wild unprotected and you may find a nasty you won't know how to deal with. So do keep your system up to date, do be careful on the internet, do look out for bugs and when fixes come through update and fix them.

I think viruses has nothing to do with that kind of problem. Linux/Ubuntu has inbuilt protection system which helps to stop any virus propagation within the Operating system.But, to create viruses for this OS is technically possible but it is impossible to propagate or spread such viruses. So, you can opt for this OS because it has its inbuilt property to destroy and stop any propagation of virus. Solutions are greatly explained here and for more solutions for Linux/Ubuntu problems.

That is only half true. Linux can be infected and the best way to stop infections (in any system) is to be smart about how you use it. For linux don't do things as root unless you need to. If you do anything as root you open the door.

EDIT: I just looked at the link you provided. Are you seriously copying other peoples posts word for word as though you have just written this up and then in another thread asking for help installing Ubuntu?