Comments on: Does Ubuntu Linux Really Need Antivirus Software?

By: John Gilmour

John Gilmour — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 17:46:47 +0000

I switched to Gmail, as I was using Yahoo, but it became swamped with Worms, and Spam.

Wha I do to protect my contacts from Worm virus, I place a symbol in front of the @ sign in the contact list, which corrupts the address, when i am mailing I remove the symbol, as I usually Don’t bulk mail anything.

By: Robert Smith

Robert Smith — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:47:23 +0000

That is actually not true. They find linux virus codes and go after those codes too. The problem is that Linux is open source code. That means EVERYONE has the blueprints to build malware. The reason there isn’t that much out there is because any child could do it, NOT because it is more secure. There isn’t any pride in breaking into a house with no door, when you are more macho for breaking into a safe. Neither the safe or the doorless house are safer than the other. There are many tools you can get to also watch diffent things in Linux than windows, which is more helpful in protecting strictly linux issues. Your best bet is to use CD based linux which you cannot write to to protect yourself from virus. AND there is a way to build that onto a hard drive, so it would be a read only operating system that could not be boot infected nor could you install anything that would alter the code when rebooted either. You could only infect the memory until it was rebooted. that is where antivirus and anti malware come into play to protect the memory between reboots on a read only system.

By: Robert Smith

Robert Smith — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:40:34 +0000

I think that rationale is plain silly. Virus and trojans are used for many different purposes. Not just servers, they go after home and personal systems too. Think of it this way. If you go to ANY sites where money is involved, a virus can steal your authentication information and someone can then get into that account and affect you in the wallet. Plus you are letting me know who out there doesn’t have antivirus (because you put your information into this forum with your comments) so now folks know where to go to get banking information unprotected.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:40:27 +0000

My installer will not let me install Avast. It says it is of poor quality and will make my system unstable. I have always used Avast on Windows and really like it. Most Linux is Open Source and does not like any software that is not Open source. That is the dilemma, there is no good Open Source anti virus.

By: 3vi1

3vi1 — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:34:00 +0000

The virus you speak of is a Windows virus, and won’t run on Ubuntu. Just plug in the thumbdrive and open the docs with LibreOffice.

By: Does ubuntu need anti-virus

Does ubuntu need anti-virus — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:48:53 +0000

[...] Software Center where a number of applications are available. And also check these posts by others: http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/does-ubun…irus-software/ http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-564776.html [...]

By: zia

zia — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:26:49 +0000

hello sir..i m new to ubuntu 11.10 …
i was wondering tht i have a usb which has my important documents and it also has a virus in it…so how can i be sure to get those documents out safely from the usb ..

thankyou

By: Ubuntu security. - I don't feel 50 Forums

Ubuntu security. - I don't feel 50 Forums — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:13:36 +0000

[...] just by the usual Google method. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Antivirus Security on Ubuntu Does Ubuntu Linux Really Need Antivirus Software? | Ubuntu Linux Help So, the question really should be, of our members, have you had any issues, or anything worthy of [...]

By: UbuntuLinuxHelp

UbuntuLinuxHelp — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:06:46 +0000

@Steven
Windows was on that PC… Linux has a different permission system. As “yochai” pointed out:

“…it is extremely difficult to write a Linux virus as UNIX systems run multi-user enviroments (specific permission sets are given to specific processes depending on the user)…”

and

“…if you downloaded a nasty executable it STILL couldn’t hurt your machine as it only had the rights of the program that downloaded it— namely firefox, which is being run by you, the normal user…”

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:29:10 +0000

My ubuntu 11.04 was INFECTED! My ports were open to the world. I had to scrap my os and start with a whole new distro. My setup was dual boot. windows with full service packs,updates,firewall, and antivirus;behind a router. I really only use my linux partition,but everything was infected. My windows was owned with all ports open.ubuntu had maybe 30 or 40 ports. Linux is getting popular; ubuntu even more so. Be warned. My antivirus programs did not catch it. My port scanners, vulnerability tests did. ALWAYS USE PROTECTION! Here’s an example of a devoloper hacked! http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News/Kernelorg-hacked/