Linux doesn’t necessarily need an anti-virus guard if it’s maintained properly, and software is downloaded through secure channels. Many popular Linux flavors such as Mint, and Ubuntu have their own repositories. These repositories are under strict scrutiny, and therefore it’s less likely a malware to exist in packages downloaded through it.
While we were reading we ran into the query “Do I need antivirus and rootkit removers in Linux Mint?”.
You don’t need any antivirus software or rootkit removers (such as chkrootkit and rkhunter) in your Linux Mint. What’s more, those applications even decrease your security (!). Below I’ll explain why I’m against installing antivirus and rootkit removers.
Is there any malware on Linux Mint?
In popular Linux flavors like Mint and Ubuntu there is an inbuilt package which is connected with the official software repository from where applications can be downloaded to Install. Since this repository is under the scrutiny of thousands of volunteers, and developers, it’s less likely it contains of malware.
Does linux need antivirus software?
For this reason, many Linux users have long believed that the OS doesn’t need antivirus software. However, while Linux use on desktops has historically remained at relatively low levels, the inverse is true for servers. Antivirus is necessary for cybersecurity teams that wish to better protect their endpoints.
Antivirus software isn’t entirely useless on Linux. If you are running a Linux-based file server or mail server, you will probably want to use antivirus software. If you don’t, infected Windows computers may upload infected files to your Linux machine, allowing it to infect other Windows systems.
Again on the official page of Ubuntu, they claim that you don’t need to use antivirus software on it because viruses are rare, and Linux is inherently more secure. You can still add antivirus software for additional security and mental satisfaction. Popular antivirus software for Linux includes Sophos, Comodo, and ClamAV.
Is Linux server safe from viruses?
One more thing to ponder upon is the fact that Linux servers can get hit by malware just like any other server. The desktop version of Linux is highly safe, but the servers can get infected if infected files hit them. This is a simple case that can be fixed very easily in Linux. Is antivirus necessary on Linux?
Some think that here are precautions to take to protect your Linux machines from threats such as malware or viruses, Linux user is advised to get trusted software from authorized repositories such as Github. If you are running cross-platform with a windows workstation; make sure to get up-to-date anti-virus software.
While we were reading we ran into the query “Is Linux safe to use?”.
One common answer is, linux has gained a good name for being secure enough, and resistant to many malwares out there. Some of the popular Linux based operating systems are Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, Redhat, Debian, Arch. Nevertheless, none of these operating systems by default utilize a proper antivirus guard.