This is the first time i am operating Linux . I just installed Fedora 16 KDE and i need to know if i really need a antivirus ? I have heard that antivirus isn't needed with linux. Is it so ?
If i need to install an antivirus which is recommended ?
asked Jan 25, 2012 at 7:09
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No antivirus for linux?– Sathyajith Bhat ♦Jan 25, 2012 at 7:14
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1 Answer
Generally speaking, you don't. There are very few virus-like things that hurt Linux systems, and most of the vectors for malicious code come through things like network services with known bugs.
The main reason to install traditional anti-virus software is to avoid carrying Windows viruses, inactive, in Windows document formats.
The standard choice is clamav, and perhaps a GUI front-end to that. It should be packaged and available in your distribution.
In summary: anti-virus is the wrong sort of defence; keep your system patched instead.
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Apply the patches that your vendor supplies through the system update tools. If you install software from anyone other than Fedora, follow their patching process. Jan 25, 2012 at 7:17