Antivirus program needed for Linux?

[Andersfunk]

Hey,
I'm new to Linux!

Do you recommend installing an antivirus program?
Or is it like with Mac, that it is not necessary?

Thanks in advance!

[khafa]

I'd say that you dont need one for the "same" reason that you dont need it on Mac.

[DingoBoy]

The simple anwser is 'no'. Linux is hardly ever attacked. However, i recommend setting up a strong firewall, and security policies. The Applications 'Firestarter' and 'Selinux' can help you do that. Just type,

sudo apt-get install firestarter selinux

in your terminal, and they'll install.

Comradly, DingoBoy.

[oz]

Welcome to the forums, Andersfunk!

I'd recommend reading this short article regarding security, then deciding for yourself if you need to install security apps:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...-security.html

That said, I've been running Linux for almost 9 years now and have never run an AV application.

[Bemk]

You won't really need virus protection in GNU/Linux, however a good firewall is never bad.

[L4Linux]

I agree with the firewall installation.
If you want to protect your friends who still use windows, install the antivirus. While you exchange and download files, some can be infected.
These infected files will be able to infect windows, while Linux will remain unharmed.
A full system check won't be needed very often. I do once a month and never had infections in Linux.
If you believe it is their problem, you are secure enough even without it.(like with Mac)

[elija]

If you are running a server that provides email or files to and from Windows users then I would consider it necessary to run a virus scanner.

If it is for your own desktop machine then while not really needed, it should be considered socially responsible to run a virus scanner to remove infections from files you share.

[Andersfunk]

Thanks!!!!