Anti-Virus again... F-PROT anyone? Why I need one

[alcanz]

Howd'y and thanks for the comments.

Yeah, I'm probably being over the top overcautious, but I read about so many different types of malware out there these days. It's hard to know what's real and what's smoke and mirrors.  Or, how the banks might respond if someone siphons your accounts.  Has anyone ever heard what happens?

I have heard a multitude of stories about suckers falling victim to Russian and other scam artists lurking behind photos of unknown beauties and purported 'Pots of Gold' inheritances, but really nothing about who pays when the money gets taken from your account by someone else. That said, quite a while ago, a family member got her handbag stolen, and before she even knew it was missing, received a call from "the bank".  It cost her $680 to learn never to give out your PIN.  Of course, there was utterly no recourse on that one.

You might be right about what the banks know. They don't even list Linux as an acceptable platform - they would rather you go with Open-Slather Windows, even as old as 7. (Actually, 7 is probably more secure than 8.x or 10, as it's been in Beta Test a lot longer.  )  That said, I don't want to be the one to find out.  Besides, the technology to log all the info, from IP Number to Browser and OS versions is available. I bet the good banks all use it. Many refuse logins from out-of-date browsers. My bank even uses voice-print ID checks, so what they know is a moot point.

AV details - maybe not, (but Windows knows if it's out-of-date) and just look at what the Linux Lite Hardware and Software Reports produce. The Hardware Database knows your Motherboard Model, BIOS Version and Date, your Hard Drive Model, your monitor resolution, and probably gets (but doesn't display) your Motherboard Serial Number, Hard Drive S/N, MAC address, who knows what else.  And it gets it all with I think ONE click on a link! Of course, it requires installed software to do that, but how much can a browser alone tell you these days?

Anyway, I followed Jerry's advice (other thread) and asked Cyren Support - for the F-Prot for Linux AV Virus Detection stats.  Typical American Customer Support!  The answer I got back (in under 24 hours!) was basically, 'We do have an Anti-virus for Linux Workstations, but it is only [a] Command line scanner and updater.' 

I didn't even ask that question; I asked him about its detection performance.  Not even a hint.  [But at least he can check that Support Ticket as "completed".]

What I did do was send him the link to the page (from 2015) containing this graphic, and asked him about why F-Prot was last on the list, but again, not a word. Not even an acknowledgement.  From that, I'll take it as accurate, and will follow Jerry's barge pole recommendation, as soon as my next reinstall. (Am I allowed to direct-link to this image? If not, please advise and I'll screenshot one.)

Here's the page link as well:
https://www.av-test.org/en/news/linux-16...-the-test/

It's now obvious to me that Cyren has just been milking every dollar they could out of Frisk's once great reputation, while doing virtually nothing to keep the product alive.

So, meantime, I've downloaded and installed Sophos' free Linux Home User version.  Now that is a different story altogether!  Maybe another thread for that?