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On a Linux desktop (not a mail server for Windows machines, or similar), but sharing a network with other Windows machines, would you say your network is more or less secure running a Linux antivirus product? Or does it make no difference either way?

I'd argue that you're extremely unlikely to end up in a situation where you're unknowingly causing problems for Windows users because you're silently sending viruses around the network. If anything, on a closed network, repeatedly transferring the updates from an external source onto the Linux desktop is likely to reduce your security, if anything.

Thoughts?

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possible duplicate of Is antivirus software on a Linux desktop more or less secure? – honk Oct 19 '10 at 9:34
@honk, if you comment on both duplicates, the end result may be that both are closed as duplicate... – Péter Török Oct 19 '10 at 9:39
@Peter: ok, I shouldn't have done this, but after voting for this one first I wished I could have undone it. meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/915/… – honk Oct 19 '10 at 9:53
Please review the FAQ. Super User is not a discussion forum. – Diago Oct 19 '10 at 20:27
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closed as not constructive by honk, Sathya♦, Diago Oct 19 '10 at 20:26

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Linux and Windows viruses are completely different in their nature ) Normal antivirus for Win knows about windows threats, and vice versa for Linux. So you need to catch linux-virus that can send viruses by network to the windows devices ) But such linux-virus must be stoped by your linux-antivirus )

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As cross-platform viruses do exist, your network is always more secure with anti-virus.

I may draw flames here from Linux advocates who maintain it is unattackable, but in my book everything is attackable. The latest router hacks are in effect Linux exploits.

As ancient wisdom says: "Better safe than sorry".

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