LinuxQuestions.org
Share your knowledge at the LQ Wiki.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie
User Name
Password
Linux - Newbie This Linux forum is for members that are new to Linux.
Just starting out and have a question? If it is not in the man pages or the how-to's this is the place!

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 11-17-2007, 11:23 AM   #1
vansch76
Member
 
Registered: Aug 2007
Location: Asheville, NC, USA
Distribution: Mint 17 Rebecca
Posts: 145

Rep: Reputation: 18
Is Virus protection really needed in Linux


Hi

I was wondering if I need a virus scanner in Linux? I have read posts
on both sides of the issue.

thanks
Vanessa
 
Old 11-17-2007, 11:28 AM   #2
Brian1
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Seymour, Indiana
Distribution: Distribution: RHEL 5 with Pieces of this and that. Kernel 2.6.23.1, KDE 3.5.8 and KDE 4.0 beta, Plu
Posts: 5,700

Rep: Reputation: 65
There are few Linux virus but rare to have anything to happen. Now that can change anyday at anytime. You never know. it is better to be safe that sorry. I keep clamav installed mostly for scanning and repairing of Window based OS machines.

Brian
 
Old 11-17-2007, 11:29 AM   #3
reddazz
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Nov 2003
Location: N. E. England
Distribution: Fedora, CentOS, Debian
Posts: 16,298

Rep: Reputation: 77
If you are running a mail server or sharing files with people who use Windows, then it maybe a good idea to have antivirus. If not, then its pointless in my opinion because most virus checkers, look for Windows viruses.
 
Old 11-17-2007, 11:38 AM   #4
Tomtherab
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Feb 2007
Posts: 15

Rep: Reputation: 0
I don't believe there are any linux viruses in the wild.

If they were in the wild, they would only be a mild concern to those who run around as root all day, in which case a virus is the least of their worries.
 
Old 11-17-2007, 03:57 PM   #5
AceofSpades19
Senior Member
 
Registered: Feb 2007
Location: Chilliwack,BC.Canada
Distribution: Slackware64 -current
Posts: 2,079

Rep: Reputation: 58
I doubt there will be day when all of sudden there is 50,000 viruses for linux. There is no need right now, unless you are using a mail server, or sharing files with windows machines.
 
Old 11-17-2007, 04:06 PM   #6
Slokunshialgo
Member
 
Registered: Jan 2006
Distribution: Ubuntu 9.04, Fedora 10
Posts: 76

Rep: Reputation: 17
If Linux goes the way of Mac (taking a solid Unix core, and making it overly simple for users to use), then yeah, there will likely be viruses. But as it stands, the only thing a virus can affect is the user's home directory if they make it executable, then run it, or the system if they run it as root.

But when it comes to other computers, servers should have it, as should gateway machines for a network (Direct connection to the internet, allowing filtering before it hits the router), as there may be Windows machines on there that can be affected, and it's easier to have one scanner going for all traffic, than to have multiple scanners for every computer.
 
Old 11-17-2007, 05:48 PM   #7
vansch76
Member
 
Registered: Aug 2007
Location: Asheville, NC, USA
Distribution: Mint 17 Rebecca
Posts: 145

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 18
Thanks for the info. I guess Ill hold off on a virus scanner for my linux laptop.
I do run a virus scanner on my windows hard drive. I dont use windows much anymore.

thanks again
Vanessa
 
Old 11-17-2007, 06:10 PM   #8
ieatsplaydoh
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2006
Location: Denver
Distribution: All of them
Posts: 62

Rep: Reputation: 15
Yes, there are "viruses" in linux. Rootkits. They really aren't very common unless you abuse your system and install a bunch of 3rd party RPMs and DEBs. Its not a pain to check for rootkits, so just get rkhunter, which would be in the software repository for your distro.

http://www.rootkit.nl/
 
Old 11-17-2007, 06:26 PM   #9
jschiwal
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Fargo, ND
Distribution: SuSE AMD64
Posts: 15,733

Rep: Reputation: 681Reputation: 681Reputation: 681Reputation: 681Reputation: 681Reputation: 681
There are a couple root kit hunters that you can use. Rkhunter and chkrootkit. While virus type programs aren't a big concern for Linux, being hacked is. These programs will scan your system for evidence of tampering. You could get some false positives. So Google is your friend in investigating the results.

The single best thing you can do whether you use Linux or Windows is to use a NAT router. By the nature of how it works, non-solicited connection attempts are dropped because the router has no way of knowing where it should go. Make sure not to use UPnP on the router.

If you run a service, there are usually steps in securing them. For example, mysql has a very large manual. There is a chapter on steps you absolutely need to follow to add passwords for the initial accounts. For ssh, you can disable SSH protocol 1, use "AllowUsers" or "AllowGroups" to determine who has permission to connect. Some people use a different port for SSH. So it is important to read the manuals & README files that are installed with any type of service you install. Also be sure to keep up with applying security updates.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Does Linux Require Virus Protection? phantom87s Linux - General 7 12-13-2008 09:31 AM
linux virus protection matt kramer Linux - Newbie 7 07-26-2006 10:46 PM
Virus protection for Linux vital_101 Linux - Security 2 09-22-2005 04:59 AM
BEST firewall and virus protection for Linux sschreiner72 Linux - Software 8 02-01-2004 11:43 AM
Linux virus protection......wtf? Aussie General 8 03-05-2002 12:46 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:37 PM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration