AntiVirus and Firewalls for Linux

Mikey1280 · 28 Feb 2006 at 13:23

Hi, soon going to install Suse or Mandrake on an old hard drive. Does anyone recommend a decent firewall and antivirus program for Linux, currently using AVG and ZoneAlarm on windows.

Thanks, I'm a linux n00b

Dunky · 28 Feb 2006 at 13:43

Firewall - Installed by default called iptables. By default it allows outbound traffic but denys inbound (server) traffic. You can install a program Firestarter which is just a GUI. But if you're behind a router then there's no need.

Antivirus - No need and all linux antiviri programs are there to scan Windows shares (so they only really detect Windows viri). Linux is designed with security at the heart of it so there is no need for a native scanner. No virus can do any serious damage to a system since you need to be logged in as root (or ran as root via su / sudo). The linux way of thinking is: rather than find a cure, don't let there be a problem in the first place. The only way any exploit code could be executed is via poor coding - but this kind of code is fixed very quickly via patches.

Just keep your system out to date and it will be fine.

afraser2k · 28 Feb 2006 at 13:54

If you really want an anti-virus solution then you can try ClamAV. It's free and got a good review in a recent issue of Linux Format.

http://www.clamav.net/

barnettgs · 28 Feb 2006 at 14:55

There is Linux version of AVG free edition at http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

AJUK · 28 Feb 2006 at 17:16

Firewall is part of most Linux distros, certainly SuSE and Mandrake and as mentioned already, there is no need for anti viru on Linux.

afraser2k · 28 Feb 2006 at 20:28

Would you be able to use anti-virus on Linux to scan Windows desktops (not just Samba shares)? Would be nice to use ClamAV for this on one dedicated desktop for the rest on the network that don't have anti-virus installed as my AVG Pro license must be up soon.