linux virus scanner

TranceDude · 09-18-2005, 07:08 AM

hi

I'm a linux beginner and I'm wondering if it's recommended to use a linux virusscanner. And if so, which one?

Are there real linux virusses or just a small amount or none?

thx

XavierP · 09-18-2005, 07:14 AM

At the moment, there are no active viruses for Linux - they are all "proff of concept". This is not to say that there will never be viruses.

If you are feeding files to Windows boxes, whether as a server or via email, it is useful to have a scanner (though I don't have one myself):
http://www.clamav.net/ and http://www.f-prot.com/download/home_user/ are 2 of the most popular ones for Linux.

SlackerLX · 09-18-2005, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by XavierP
If you are feeding files to Windows boxes, whether as a server or via email, it is useful to have a scanner (though I don't have one myself):
http://www.clamav.net/ and http://www.f-prot.com/download/home_user/ are 2 of the most popular ones for Linux.

As a active clamav tester I wouldn't personally recommend using clamav. It tends to consider practicly everything as virus, even .mp3... It had removed my MP3 collecttion to quarantine, was good that I actually noticed.
f-prot, sophos and antivir behave all right though! Especially f-prot.

ikagan · 09-18-2005, 08:35 AM

Is a virus scanner even necessary? I am a beginner w/ linux but i have always heard that this was not a problem, unlike with microsoft products.

phil.d.g · 09-18-2005, 09:12 AM

read XavierP's post.

A virus scanner isn't needed for a Linux system they are used to protect Windows clients which connect to the Linux server

reddazz · 09-18-2005, 05:05 PM

Also use the search function. This has been discussed before (a lot) so you may find some useful info in past threads.

tkedwards · 09-18-2005, 09:37 PM

There've been a lot of threads on LQ about anti-virus and Linux lately. You might find these useful:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=347813
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=345660
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=346125
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=339944

mykrob · 09-18-2005, 09:51 PM

maybe a dumb question, but how do you know that F-prot is working? I have F-prot set to work through Kontact via the Anti-Virus wizard. I know that in Winders, a lot of the anti-virus programs tag the emails as virus free or whatever by adding a footer on the email.

How can i verify that F-prot is actually doing something?

Thanks,
-myk

tkedwards · 09-18-2005, 10:12 PM

Quote:

How can i verify that F-prot is actually doing something?

I know Clamav has some test files that you can use, I'd have thought fprot would have the same.

Otherwise just grab a file infected with a Windows virus (shouldn't be hard to find

) and try and send it to yourself, see what Fprot does.