Is there a virus scan software in linux?
 

hi,
i am a newbie in linux. so im sorry if i ask a dumb qn.
anyway, is there a virus scan software in linux?
btwm where do i find a how-to tutorial for mandrake 10.1?
as i am a first timer to linux, i dont know the commands, how to configure firewalls , handle the ports. so i was hoping to look for a comprehensive tutorial. pls advise.
thanks in advance!:)

For the most part you will not need virus software for Linux. To stay secure just keep your packages up to date and don't run anything you don't need and run a firewall. (Note there is MUCH more to security then stated above, and I suggest looking up some linux security how-to's). With that said there is clamav which will scan for viruses in a number of contexts .. system, mail, web etc..

-Matt

There is linux antivirus software avilable but because of the way linux works (non root users only being able to effect their own files), linux virus are rare (although do exist) and the antivirus tools are generally more used for scanning attachments in emails for mail servers and other such stuff so that people running windows in large corporations don't end up infected.
One antivirus program is clamav, it seems to be the most popular linux antivirus from what i can tell.

It might also be worth looking into chkrootkit, which scans for root kits on your system, root kits are various hacking tools that might get installed on your system if you are hacked some of these are automagic programs that spread as worms through vulrnable services that are open to the internet, rootkits are generally much more common than virii.

You should also look at using a firewall if you dont already since that should stop most of the worms, unless you actually need to access a service remotely the port should be open to the world, firestarter is easy to use firewall configuration tool. If your new to linux and have just installed a distro you are probally running several services and no firewall although i have no idea what the newer mandrake default setup is.

My experience with anti-virus software (in windows) is that the anti-virus software itself causes most of my problems. So, I don't run it in windows (my Linux server is firewalled), and don't need it in linux.

Actually there is AV software that can be used by root and users. Its http://www.hbedv.com/en/ and there is a GUI for users.

Its has a sendmail plugin also.

Regarding your other question,
you should find this guide very helpful. http://linux-newbie.sunsite.dk/ it is not Mandrake 10.1 specific but linux is linux. Main difference is collection of Drake tools similar to the control panel in M$. Mandrake software installation via urpmi here http://speculation.org/garrick/urpmifaq.txt Also some good stuff on this site http://www.mandrake.tips.4.free.fr/c...ration101.html

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

One more qn i like to ask. how different are the various version of linux (mandrake, slack, fedora) in terms of the way we use them?
i mean if i mastered mandrake, can i safely say that i can use what i know in mandrake on fedora (at least 90%)?

the thing is mandrake has its own gui tools like mandrake control center and fedora has its own tools as well.

so if u want to master linux then u could use a distro like slackware as if u want to change setting then u will change them manually

but for now you could stay with mandrake to get the taste of linux ;)

could you not do the same by not using the drake tools and configure manually in Mandrake?
BTW: I ask this not out of stubborness but ignorance as I have used Mandrake for years, and installed Slackware 10 on a spare pc last week but have not found time to play with it.

yes u could but everything is already setup-ed ;)

and i dont know if the gui will like it or not

As it has already been stated, Linux machines are not affected by viruses. However, a Linux machine can be zombied by a spammer, and used to send out a few million pieces of mail without the owner knowing it.

I also have clamav installed, because I have mixed Linux and Windows machines on my network, so it isn't there to keep my machine safe. It is there to prevent viruses from spreading from my machine to Windows machines both inside the network, and back out to the Internet as well.

You don't really need a virus scanner unless you have an smtp server running. If you are only receiving ordinary email, and you have a good firewall up, there is no need for you to worry about a virus.

Make no mistake, we can get rooted with Trojans, so you've still got to be on your toes. Shorewall seems to work just fine for most home users.

Michael

Dr. Web is also included with the Official release.

It is supplied as RPM's, for which there is even a special Samba RPM.

The latter permits Dr. Web to actively scan (from Linux) all of your Linux/Windows shares as they are being accessed.

Very nice if you are running Linux as a Windows server.

Yes, I've noticed the promo's for Dr. Web during installation, but I had assumed that it was pay software. Even so, if I were running a business server, I'd need something a little more sturdy than clamav.

I'll keep it in mind in case I do get the opportunity to grow.