Antivirus Software on Linux: Necessary or Unnecessary?
Based on what I’ve read so far, anti-virus software for Linux is considered unnecessary. I’m still researching why this notion exists, but the consensus seems to be that so long as you’re running Linux only you should be ok without anti-virus software.
In my case I’ve just finished installing Ubuntu as a proper parallel operating system that dual-boots with Windows XP. In this case it does seem to be recommended that anti-virus software be installed; not as a precaution for Linux, but for Windows. It’s feasible that a virus could enter a machine through Linux and remain there dormantly until it managed to gain access to XP.
The software that I’ve opted to use for the moment is called AVG Antivirus. It is the free version of a closed-source proprietary program; as such it is fairly stripped down. In fact it will only run scans but will not remove any infections it discovers; that must be done manually.
This how-to post on HowtoForge provides a good overview to the installation process. The only thing it omits is how to add the program the the Applications Menu.
According to the Ubuntu Community Documentation (”Antivirus/AVG“), the best way to do this is:
Click on “System–>Preferences–>Main Menu” To launch the menu editor.
Find the AVG entry in Accessories. Right click its entry and select Properties.
In the “Command” box add gksudo to the beginning (ie. make it look like this “gksudo avggui”)
Click on close for the AVG option then the same for the menu.
You will be now prompted for your password when necessary as AVG will only run with your password being supplied.
Perhaps it’s my history with Windows talking, but I can’t imagine running a machine without antivirus software. On the PC you’re just asking for trouble; Linux is obviously much different territory.
Just recently, a three-way hack off took place that featured a MacBook Air running OS X 10.5.2, Fujitsu laptop running Microsoft Vista, and a Sony Vaio running Ubuntu 7.10. In the end, the Macbook fell in 2 minutes, the Fujitsu with Vista fell in 2 days, and the Sony Vaio running Ubuntu didn’t fall at all.
There has been some discussion as to whether this information is completely accurate however. For example a comment on the Digg thread devoted to AHN’s “Linux Declared ‘Hacker Proof’” argues:
“…while it is true Linux systems are much more secure by design than ms-windows there are breaches of security on Linux based servers on occasion…”
As one of my colleagues said today, “If you can touch the box, you can hack it.” Therefore perhaps the massive proportion of Windows viruses relative to Mac and Linux is borne more out of an intense hatred of Microsoft than anything else.
References:
- AVG Antivirus
- “Virus Protection With AVG Antivirus On Ubuntu Feisty Fawn“, HowtoForge, 09 July 2007
- “Antivirus/Avg“, Community Ubuntu Documentation
- “Linux Declared ‘Hacker Proof’” All Headline News, March 30, 2008
- “Linux Declared ‘Hacker Proof’“, Digg, submitted 31 March 3008
