AVG Anti-virus Free For Linux Now Available For Download

lordshipmayhem · 02-14-2006, 05:02 PM

The fellow I was responding to, JohnDA, is running what looks very much like a home computer situation. These apply especially to home users:

From Librenix

Quote:

The reason that we have not seen a real Linux virus epidemic in the wild is simply that none of the existing Linux viruses can thrive in the hostile environment that Linux provides. The Linux viruses that exist today are nothing more than technical curiosities; the reality is that there is no viable Linux virus.

Of course this doesn't mean that there can never be a Linux virus epidemic.[2] It does mean, however, that a successful Linux virus must be well-crafted and innovative to succeed in the inhospitable Linux ecosystem.

Or from Rick's Rants:

Quote:

Should I get anti-virus software for my Linux box?

Here's the short version of the answer: No. If you simply never run untrusted executables while logged in as the root user (or equivalent), all the "virus checkers" in the world will be at best superfluous; at worst, downright harmful. "Hostile" executables (including viruses) are almost unfindable in the Linux world — and no real threat to it — because they lack root-user authority, and because Linux admins are seldom stupid enough to run untrusted executables as root, and because Linux users' sources for privileged executables enjoy paranoid-grade scrutiny (such that any unauthorised changes would be detected and remedied).

Rick goes on:

Quote:

Thus, even a Linux user who deliberately wants to activate a Linux virus (trojan horse, worm, or other program designed to do mischief) will have extreme difficulty getting it to circulate. If you're a programmer, try and see. Viruses aren't difficult to write on Linux: Write one, run it (as a non-root user), and watch it bollix your files. But nobody else's.

So to keep yourself safe, the home user shoud:
- keep Home backed up
- never log in as root
- keep your system patched with whatever update floats your boat (apt-get, etc) or comes with your distribution
- never log in as root.

Oh, and I nearly forgot: Never log in as root.

(Did I mention never to log in as Root?)

Monster_user · 02-22-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hand of fate

This program seems acceptable as a virus reproter, but if you were expecting a fully functional port of the Windows version (as I was) you'd be very disapointed. The interface is a lot more basic than the Windows version, and basically all it does is report viruses. There is no resident shield, no boot scanner, no email client integration, no system tray embedding. There isn't even an option to automatically heal infected files from the GUI (though this is available from the command-line module). In the manual it states which I think demonstrates how user-friendly it isn't!

While there may be no system tray embeding, or boot scanner, I still think you've gone a little overboard. I think saw some e-mail client features, although I can't be sure. I don't use e-mail clients.

There IS a "Resident Shield) called the AVG Daemon. It requires a third party Kernel Module, which often requires a recompile of the Kernel.

I believe there is an checkbox in the configuration screen, to enable automatic cleaning of files. I don't recall which tab it is in though.

I would have enjoyed testing it. Since I just had to work on an infected Win box, but something has gotten corrupted on my system. I just had to run a "reiserfsck --rebuild-tree" to fix it, and AVG hasn't worked since. I had to use QtF-Prot instead.

I did enjoy how user friendly AVGGUI was, compared to most other Linux AVs. I was just starting to like it. Now I just have to figure out what the error "avgscan: relocation error: avgscan: undefined symbol: __dynamic_cast_2" means...

JohnDA · 02-23-2006, 05:39 AM

Thanks, Lordshipmayhem, very interesting info there!

Linux is a new baby for me, and I am still dabbing my toes into the Linux lake, so these discussions are very useful to me. I appreciate the information.

John

furfurdemon666 · 03-12-2006, 10:41 AM

Here's a step-by-step install guide (with screenshots) for those running Ubuntu Breezy:

"HOWTO: Install AVG free anti-virus"

ad_puspa · 03-12-2006, 11:22 AM

i'm use suse 10.0 it can install avg antivirus.. pls help