I'm running Xubuntu (I have 15.04 now) and have been for two or three years. Back when I first went Linux I checked out the need for AV (since I spent so much time in help forums to get rid of Windows viruses) and all there seemed to be was Clam, which hardly anybody used or felt was needed.

Now I'm seeing a lot more stuff about AV for Linux. And free AV for Linux.

http://www.codefear.com/linux/5-best...are-for-linux/

https://alternativeto.net/software/p...platform=linux

But when you run them down they're not for Linux. The only real one I could find was Panda desktop AV

https://www.pandasecurity.com/japan/...desktopsecure/

and that is $35.

Then there was this Panda (to be installed via the command line)

http://panda-antivirus.en.malavida.com/linux/

but it doens't seem like a full AV.

Then there's this Comodo but it seems odd:

https://www.comodo.com/home/internet...-for-linux.php

I don't know. Do I even need AV? (I know AVs can muck things up too.) I love my Xubuntu. I've got a firewall. Is that enough or do I need one of the Pandas or something else?

Thanks.

The biggest use for an anivirus scanner on Linux is to find Windows virus infections... Useful if you are using Samba to provide file services for Windows users, and can be useful to catch viruses in mail when Linux is used for mail services for Windows users.

Otherwise, not really useful.

That is not to say that a virus for Linux couldn't exist - they can. But patches for the vulnerabilities come out faster than the virus can propagate, making the virus rather useless.

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The best thing you can do is be mindful about installing third party packages. And apply the updates as they come out as well.

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Or better yet, only install packages from your distribution's software repositories. If it doesn't exist in your distro's repository, build a package for it from source- and only download the source from the actual developer's web site.

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The only real reasons to use an anti-virus in Linux are if you are running an E-mail server or a samba server that serves content to Windows machines. ClamAV (anti-virus software) should be sufficient for scanning E-mail attachments and scanning network shares quickly / effectively.

If you are concerned about being hacked, then you can install something like Rkhunter to scan for rootkits and other vulnerabilities on your system using a cron job daily / weekly / montly.

Another option is Chkrootkit.

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Is what's in Synaptic Package Manager considered to be in the repositories? (I think of the repositories as only being in the Ubuntu Software Center.)

So you think I should get ClamAV? And then the Rkhunter just to be super-safe?

You do not need an anti-virus in Linux if it is not running a File Server or an E-mail server.

Rkhunter is great but not needed if you are running a stable version of your operating system.

Yes, Synaptic is a package manager that is meant to use the configured software repositories for your distribution.

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When I ran rkhunter it consistently gave me false positives.

I ran ClamAV for about year and it never found any virus on my Linux box.

http://www.rackspace.com/knowledge_c...-with-rkhunter
http://www.clamav.net/index.html
http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/linux-security.html
http://www.tecmint.com/linux-server-...security-tips/

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Good. Not doing the first two and running Xubuntu 15.04 and it's pretty stable so I figure I'm okay there too.

Thanks.

Thanks cat. I may put ClamAV on for the hell of it but I'll pass on the rootkit stuff. Thanks for the links. Man, that's a lot of stuff to think about. Like the "John the Ripper" tool.

Your Welcome-

When you have the time read up on machine hardening:-

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Will do.