Finding an Antivirus program for Linux
After reading the title of this article you may be thinking can Linux systems get virus. Everyone thinks that how can linux system get viruses. Everywhere we read it is written that Linux is immune to virus and other malware. However your PC is not isolated, it interacts with other Pc around the world. It is this exposure which can bring malicious malware to your PC.
Introduction
Linux is assumed to virus free because of its security designing. But there are few reasons because of which you should keep an Antivirus on you Linux system.
• Multiple Os system: If you have Linux and windows on the same machine and the Linux mounts your windows drive.
• Windows system on your network: If you scanning your network and has a infected windows system interacting with your Linux machine.
• Scanning your Windows drive
• Exchanging infected documents with a windows user.
• Sending an email forward to a windows user and making sure you are not forwarding an infected one.
You may be thinking why I should bother about other user computers. However, it will your contribution to the computer community by stopping the virus from the propagating in the network.
With advancement in the computer technology Linux users have now a lot of option available for Antivirus programs.
avast! Linux Home Edition
Avast is offering a free download of avast! for personal and non commercial purpose. The lower architecture (kernel) of Linux and windows is same. Hence the support of updates is same for linux and windows user. The frequency of the update is twice to thrice a week but increases if a new malware comes. The antivirus is very user friendly. You can do full system scan or custom scans, in addition to this you can help Avast by sending quarantine items to Avast labs.
AVG
This antivirus offers basic utility with only personal use license. This antivirus comes with warning of no support. I never had great experience using AVG hence I would not recommend this to any user.
F-Prot Antivirus
F-Prot has been designed for UNIX and Linux server but it can used for personal PC as well. Moreover, it is offered to be downloaded as personal Linux computers and workstations. F-Prot can provide you internet security by checking email viruses and websites installing trackers in your browsers. It also provides you option of custom check and full system scan. I will highly recommend usage of this free antivirus program.
Conclusion
I have discussed with you pros and cons of all the listed software. It is now upto you to choose the antivirus program based on the needs.
