Linux claims to be very secure then why do we still need an antivirus right? Linux powers over more than 70% of the world’s web servers. The hackers can make powerful viruses to creep into the servers’ security system. So to ensure another level of protection, we need a Linux antivirus. It isn’t easy to infect Linux like it is in Windows by it isn’t impossible as well. If you accidentally execute a script, then an antivirus can help protect your system from malware.
An antivirus keeps a regular check on the system and blocks malicious activities before they cause harm to the system. In this article, we will be talking about some of the best antiviruses for Linux.
Best Linux Antivirus
1. ClamAV – The Original Linux Antivirus
This antivirus is developed by Cisco Systems. It is an open-source and free program. You can apply it on almost every Linux distro’s repositories. This antivirus has amazing control for advanced users. The beginners often prefer ClamTK. The program has a command-line interface. You can scan directories, individual files, and drives easily. It is one of the best malware detectors as an antivirus.
2. Comodo: The Feature-Laden Choice
It is developed by Comodo Cybersecurity. The antivirus is easy to use and setup and gives guaranteed protection. You can scan files in the program itself. It works for both 32-bit and 64-bit architecture. This program gives server-side protection. It also has anti-spam support. It has cross-platform support as well.
3. Firetools – Go-To Option for Sandboxing with GUI
All antivirus programs that can detect malware by Firetools will help you deal with malicious web scripts. It is developed by Firejail security sandbox. It is a sandbox GUI tool for Linux. Using this program, you can first run scripts and software in a different and isolated area to check whether it is safe. It will make your system more secure. Firetools give protection equal to a group of antivirus.
4. Sophos: The Best Free Antivirus for Linux
It is one of the best and widely used antiviruses for Linux. You can either scan files when you want or use the real-time scan option. This program can also detect malware from other OS as well. It is a nice and lightweight antivirus that will meet all your needs. You can manage Sophos on up to three devices at a time from one monitoring app. You can do so for free but not all features available for free. It is an enterprise cybersecurity giver. The program has given their products for independent testing with AV comparatives.
5. Panda Cloud Cleaner – The Cloud-Based Antivirus
If you don’t want a 24×7 antivirus running in the background of your system then you can go for this program. You can download this antivirus when you want to use it and remove it after. If you don’t want extra software on your Linux consider Panda Cloud Cleaner. When you download this program, you just need to give all the permissions to the file.
6. ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4 – The Best Anti-Spyware and Anti-Malware
Many tests state this program is the best antivirus for Linux. It has many features like spyware detection, deep malware, and network security. This antivirus offers both industry and home level protection with automatic updates. It has a fee limited period trial version that you can avail of to see if the performance is good enough to buy it.
7. Rootkit Hunter: The Best Rootkit Tool
Rootkit Hunter is developed by Michael Boelen. It uses backdoors and local exploits to detect and eliminate Trojan software and viruses. It is simple and fast to use. This program gives support for SHA-1 and detects malicious software. It is great at portability.
8. F-PROT – The Renowned Choice for Linux
This program works on both the home and industry levels. It is developed by FRISK Software International. This antivirus will protect your system from around 21 million threats and their variants. It is portable and free. You can scan the internal drives and drivers easily here. It supports both 32-bit and 64-bit architecture. The program can also scan against macro, Trojan, and boot sector viruses.
9. Avast Antivirus – A High-End Antivirus for Linux
This program is very famous and widely used around the world. It is only available for businesses and is paid software. It doesn’t have a free version. If you are a business person and want an antivirus for your system you can go for this program. You can easily download the software from the official site and use it. The program is updated frequently to ensure greater safety.
10. Chkrootkit – To Defend the System
It is developed by Pangea Informatica. The program is lightweight and portable which works for root cleaning. It detects rootkit on Linux and is easy to use and fast. You can easily run the program. You can also manage and solve many errors by its functionality.
Conclusion
So these were some of the best antiviruses for Linux. You don’t really need these programs if you maintain security hygiene. You can do so by not using the root user, giving Sudo access to limited users, and giving limited permissions to other users. It depends on you if you want to trust Linux’s default security or install an antivirus and ensure the protection. The operating systems have various types of problems and errors. Most of them are intentionally malware, Trojan, viruses. Linux is a very secure and efficient OS but still, these problems can occur. So it is always better to get an antivirus for your system.
FAQs
Do I need virus protection on Linux?
Viruses that can affect Linux are rare and Linux ensures safety. But if you still want stronger protection you can install any of the antivirus mentioned above. With these programs, you can scan the files in your system. It is difficult to infect Linux but it isn’t impossible. So it is always good to have an antivirus in the system. An antivirus not just protects the system against viruses but also many other types of threats.
What are the disadvantages of Linux?
Despite being one of the most secure and wonderful OS systems, Linux has certain disadvantages. Apart from the drawbacks mentioned below the system is amazing.
- No standard desktop environment.
- Desktop software is rare.
- Poor support for games.
- No one way of packaging software.
Is Linux hard to learn?
If you want to learn Linux for everyday use there is nothing tricky or technical in it. It is as simple as learning to operate Windows. Working on the Linux server is different just like working on a Windows server. If you already know one operating system, Linux won’t be difficult. It is basically the same as other systems, just some of the things are different.
Is Mac faster than Linux?
Yes, Mac is faster than Linux. Mac is a certified UNIX and Linux is just a knock off of UNIX. Mac is fully featured and will perform almost every task you give it. Linux can also do so but it won’t be as fast as Mac. It is not like Linux won’t give you the desired output but Mac can give it faster.
Can I put Linux on my laptop?
You can use Linux on your laptop with just a USB drive and you won’t need to modify your system for it. Windows 10 isn’t the only free operating system that you can install. If you want to use Linux regularly on your laptop then you can download it as well. But if you don’t use it frequently then I would suggest using it through USB Drive only. Downloading it is simple and easy.