4 Linux antivirus solutions to help protect your data
Miscellaneous / / April 06, 2021
A free OS is not as invulnerable as it is commonly believed, so take care of its security.
The vast majority of Linux users believe that antivirus is not needed in their OS. This is partly true, since Unix-like systems are extremely scrupulous in the distribution of root rights. In addition, due to the low popularity of open source operating systems, there are many fewer viruses created for them than for Windows and macOS.
There is even a joke that in Linux, viruses must first be compiled from source manually and given root rights so that they can at least run.
However, in certain cases, an antivirus on Linux can come in handy. For example, if you created your own home file, mail, or torrent server. Or if you have Linux and Windows installed on your computer at the same time, which can open files from the same shared disk or partition.
In the latter case, if you download malware, it won't run on Linux, but it can infect Windows (in theory). To avoid such situations, there are anti-viruses for Linux-systems.
1. ClamAV
ClamAV is a veteran of the Linux world. This antivirus is free and open source. It is mainly used on servers, but it is also well suited for home use.
ClamAV is usually controlled from the command line, which is convenient for advanced users. For beginners, however, you can install ClamTk, a graphical interface that makes it easier to work with antivirus.
ClamAV for the command line can be installed directly from the repository of most distributions. On Ubuntu and similar systems, you need to run the following command:
sudo apt install clamav
To install ClamAV with a GUI run this command:
sudo apt install clamtk
Download ClamAC →
2. Dr. Web Security Space for Linux
Most well-known antiviruses like Kaspersky or Avast offer only expensive ones. corporate packages for UNIX servers, not without reason believing that ordinary Linux users protection is useless. Developers Dr. Web have a different opinion - they have created a separate version of their Security Space for a free OS.
Antivirus is extremely easy to manage, but provides reliable protection - after all, this is the famous Dr. Web. The program can scan not only files, but also web traffic and mail.
It is recommended for home installation. computersand to the servers. And the antivirus can scan not only the device on which it is installed, but also other computers on your local network.
The cost of the program license is 1,790 rubles per year, but you can try the antivirus for free for a month. To install Dr. Web Security Space on Linux, follow the link below.
Download Dr. Web Security Space for Linux →
Then right-click the file and click Properties → Permissions. Check the "Allow run as program" radio button and run the installer as usual.
3. ESET NOD32 Antivirus for Linux Desktop
Another well-known antivirus that has received a home version for Linux. The program fights against viruses, spyware and ransomware, and also helps prevent the leakage of user data, such as bank card numbers. The interface of ESET NOD32 is simple and nice, the antivirus works very quickly.
The ESET NOD32 license allows you to activate copies of the program on three devices at the same time, which is nice if you already use this antivirus on Windows. The cost of the license is 1,990 rubles per year.
To install ESET NOD32 Antivirus on Ubuntu and distributions based on it, first download the package via your package manager: libc6 ‑ i386
Or run the command:
sudo apt install libc6 ‑ i386
Then download the installer, right-click it and click Properties → Permissions. Check the "Allow run as program" radio button. Run the installer and follow the instructions.
Download ESET NOD32 Antivirus for Linux Desktop →
4. Chkrootkit
Chkrootkit is a Linux tool for finding rootkits. These are malware masquerading as system files that are harder to identify and remove than regular ones. viruses.
Chkrootkit scans the system for them and removes the threats it detects. The program is very light and works directly from the command line, but it does not have built-in file monitoring, so it needs to be launched manually or using the scheduler.
To eliminate Chkrootkit in Ubuntu and similar OS, run the command:
sudo apt install chkrootkit
To start searching for malware, run the command:
sudo chkrootkit
And wait for the scan results.
Read also🧐
- 10 best free antivirus programs
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- 7 reliable antiviruses for Windows 10
- How to install Linux: detailed instructions
- 10 Linux misconceptions you should stop believing in