[SOLVED] Do I need anti-virus protection for Xubuntu?
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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.
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?
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.
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?
The best thing you can do is be mindful about installing third party packages. And apply the updates as they come out as well.
The best thing you can do is be mindful about installing third party packages. And apply the updates as they come out as well.
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.
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.
...
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?
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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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