Anti Virus Poll

[nomko]

The discussion of using an anti-virus tool goes on for many years now. When I started using Linux in 2007, the discussion was already going on. I think there are a few situations for using or not using an anti-virus tool under Linux:
-   Standalone Linux system with a wired/wireless connection to the internet
-   Linux system integrated in a network which also has Windows systems integrated and with a wired/wireless connection to the internet
-   None of above
Then there’s the situation which we all deal with, namely sharing files with Windows-users.

Keep in mind that any file which contains a virus, Linux stores that file with the virus included! The use of different filesystems (Ext3/Ext4 or NTFS) has no effect on the virus itself. The source code of the virus will not be modified or what so ever. The only difference is that Windows viruses will never work on Linux systems due to the major difference in the operating system architecture. The only variation on this statement is, when Windows programs are indeed installed on Linux systems by means of tools like WINE or VirtualBox. Then the Windows virus will do have impact, but only on the Windows programs and not on Linux.

If we take the first situation of the standalone system with only a connection to the internet then an anti-virus tool would be not needed. Unless the user shares files with a Windows-user through the internet, an anti-virus tool would be of assistance. But then the question will rise if we, as Linux users, are responsible for the safety and security of the system of a Windows-user. Meaning, do we need to scan the files we send to the Windows-user for viruses? Yes and no. Yes, to prevent that computer viruses can spread out and no, it is the full responsibility of each individual computer user to secure its own system well.

If we take the second situation of a network in which Linux as well Windows systems are integrated, yes, then we do need an anti-virus tool to avoid unwanted infection of any Windows system through the Linux systems. This situation makes it clear that anti-virus tools installed on Linux systems are very useful. No further explanation required here.

It is clear to say that a Linux system which is not connected to the internet or a network really doesn’t need an anti-virus tool. Unless it is used to share files with a Windows-user ofcourse.

Overseeing my opinion, I can only conclude that the use of an anti-virus tool is only required when the Linux-user is sharing files with a Windows-user. Whether this is done a network connection, through the internet of by using memory cards, USB sticks, CD’s or DVD’s, when a Linux-user shares an infected file with a Windows-user, the Windows system will be infected with that virus which is not noticed by the Linux-user.

Are we, as Linux-users, responsible for the security of the system of a Windows-user? No, we are not! But we can help Windows-users of not getting infected by scanning the files first before we share it with Windows-users. See this as being polite to Windows-users.

But then again, we can make the decision ourselves if we want to use an anti-virus tool or not.

[Wirezfree]

I have just tried to down load the deb file for Comodo and nothing appears to be happening.

Not sure what your exact is issue is..??

I remember, no notes on this, that it did not run, you could only manually scan.
There was an issue with Comodo on Ubuntu, depending on Version & Kernel,
There was a "unofficial patch" available...
You will have to Google if you want the fix it

[BarryVG]

To Torrey
Thanks for the input.  i'll  check
My version is 98.7, which installed some time ago.
I do have a schedule in the package to update and run scan.  I'm not concerned about false positive, for if it finds anything that is more important.  Don't want to pass on anything.

Hope this helps.

[newtusmaximus]

My interest in an AV is purely to ensure that I inadvertently do not pass on any "infected" files received as attachments etc.
AFAIK Clamav  is not updating the virus databank on my version from Synaptic (0.98.7).  I use the ClamTK GUI.  It has identified three pdf files as suspect. These are quarantined at the moment but could be false positives??

I have just tried to down load the deb file for Comodo and nothing appears to be happening.  Another family member has had update problems with comodo on Win 7 machine.

Therefore not sure what the "safest" options would be.

[torreydale]

To BarryVG,

I got similar results when using ClamTk.  To me the infections found were false positives.

You should be able to find 1GB DDR memory on eBay.  It may come from Hong Kong, and it may take a little bit to arrive, but it's definitely available on eBay.

[BarryVG]

For my test system which updated to 2.8 last week, I do run the Clam TK app.  I set it up to have a scheduled update and scan functions.

Fun part of this system, it is a 1.30ghz processor, only has 756 mb ram, using 254mb.  All updates have been completed and it still runs, though be it a bit slow.   Would like to add more ram, but finding a 1gb DDR chip isn't the easiest task.

My scan today found 10 infections.  While the system didn't show any affects, these were in the Firefox browser.

[torreydale]

That sounds like my experience with Clamav/ClamTk.  I eventually gave up and embraced the common knowledge that AV was less of a concern with Linux desktops than with Windows desktops.  I've since heard decent things about Comodo AV.  I may test that soon.

[avj]

I couldn't get clam to update the virus information. I would say that it doesn't seem to be usable. I have uninstalled it.

[Jerry]

As far as scanning goes, go to Settings, make sure all boxes are ticked, then try again. Why ClamTK doesn't have those ticked boggles the mind. ClamTK seems incomplete and slow. I'm open to suggestions of other AV for linux, but you must have tried or used it recently for me to take a look at it. Sometimes people suggest software that is either no longer maintained or is difficult to install. Cheers

[avj]

@Jerry, sorry didn't realize I needed to ignore errors.  After following the rest of the instructions it appears to work for single files, when scanning a folder however it only seems to scan the folder not what is in it. The first window worked with my theme, but the Update Assistant and other windows didn't they  had white text on a white background. I switched themes to Mediterranean White and could see the text. When I try to update it instantly says complete without downloading anything. The only other thing I see is that the icons, and text are a bit small, and don't change even if I resize the window.

[Jerry]

@avj did you run sudo apt-get install -f ?

[Jerry]

Will close the Poll at the end of the month. Thank you to all for participating in this to date.

[gold_finger]

how does one change their vote?  I would like to change mine from "No" to "Instructions via Documentation".  Will system automatically delete my prior "No" vote if I now click on the other one?

I "removed" my previous vote, and the total vote count went from 20 to 19, so I guess the tally stays accurate.

Thanks paul1149.  Stupid me didn't see that "remove vote" button (or any of the other ones for that matter) until you pointed it out.  Right there in front of my face, but blind, oblivious me didn't see it.

[paul1149]

how does one change their vote?  I would like to change mine from "No" to "Instructions via Documentation".  Will system automatically delete my prior "No" vote if I now click on the other one?

I "removed" my previous vote, and the total vote count went from 20 to 19, so I guess the tally stays accurate.

[avj]

I tried the install and got the following errors when running "sudo dpkg -i *.deb"

Code: [Select]

sudo dpkg -i *.deb
[sudo] password for albert:
Selecting previously unselected package clamav.
(Reading database ... 199999 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack clamav_0.99-1.deb ...
Unpacking clamav (0.99-1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package clamav-freshclam.
Preparing to unpack clamav-freshclam_0.99-1.deb ...
Unpacking clamav-freshclam (0.99-1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package clamtk.
Preparing to unpack clamtk_5.20-i386.deb ...
Unpacking clamtk (5.20) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of clamav:
 clamav depends on libtext-csv-perl; however:
  Package libtext-csv-perl is not installed.
 clamav depends on libjson-perl; however:
  Package libjson-perl is not installed.
 clamav depends on libclamunrar6; however:
  Package libclamunrar6 is not installed.

dpkg: error processing package clamav (--install):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up clamav-freshclam (0.99-1) ...
touch: cannot touch ‘/var/log/clamav/freshclam.log’: No such file or directory
dpkg: error processing package clamav-freshclam (--install):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of clamtk:
 clamtk depends on clamav (>= 0.99-1); however:
  Package clamav is not configured yet.
 clamtk depends on libdate-calc-perl; however:
  Package libdate-calc-perl is not installed.

dpkg: error processing package clamtk (--install):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for man-db (2.6.7.1-1ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for ureadahead (0.100.0-16) ...
ureadahead will be reprofiled on next reboot
Processing triggers for mime-support (3.54ubuntu1.1) ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.22-1ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.10.1-0ubuntu2) ...
Processing triggers for menu (2.1.46ubuntu1) ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
 clamav
 clamav-freshclam
 clamtk