[stathisx]

Does Linux need antivirus software?

[Pimp Daddy]

Definitely. The more popular it becomes, the more frequently we'll see virii appearing that specifically target it. While Linux is almost tornado and volcano proof (especially compared to Windows), people will always be around who set themselves the challenge of breaking it in a malicious way.

At the mo' the system that has Linux on it in my house has no internet connection but it might do in the near future. Also, you have to remember that virii also come through things like pirated CDs or on bad floppy disks.

[sarumont]

In the end, though, virii on Linux will have to have some user intervention to work. Much less to be malicious. If you don't install/run it on a Linux system, then it really can't do anything.

There are programs that may have security holes discovered from time to time...keep up to date on your patches. The only plausible cause of an exploit affecting a Linux system is the admin's ignorance/lazyness. If you patch your servers regularly and keep up with security holes, then you have less to worry about. If you keep your servers in chroot jails and/or keep them running as unpriveledged users, then you should have nothing to worry about.

my( $USD02 );

[loft306]

It is not that i have never thought about anti viral software on a linux system, I just havent seen the need to use it and probably never will , as sarumont said the user has to initiate it and we linux users seem to have a brighter lightbulb than the windoz users(Most of them)

[kartik_mistry]

I think i never need norton av on Linux !

[gwalters]

lol...someone should run norton av in wine...i wonder what the output of that would be!

[sarumont]

Originally Posted by gwalters

lol...someone should run norton av in wine...i wonder what the output of that would be!

I have a friend that ran hijackthis in a VM (it scans the reg, looking for questionable stuff like spyware, adware). It turned up a clean report.

[kartik_mistry]

hay ,
I don't want to say that Nortan runs in Linux , my aim is to say for any AV s/w !

Long live Linux !!

[Pimp Daddy]

Well, someone thinks anti-viral software is needed. I've found an app called Antivir on Tucows. Don't know how good it is though.