Ubuntu Noob - Do I Need Anti Virus & Firewall ?
- Thread starter Bint Box
- Start date
Linux has a notion of secure by default. Ubuntu doesn't do a great job of this, e.g. cups will be running even if you don't have a printer.
Type iptables -L into a terminal, if it doesn't list any rules then you don't have a firewall active and should tweak it. If it says iptables isn't found then you definitely don't have a firewall running.
An antivirus would do little good, there's plenty of malicious code out there targeting linux but it's not going to be stopped by an antivirus program.
If however you completely ignore security in OSX fashion, then it'll run for a lot longer than a windows machine treated the same way.
Type iptables -L into a terminal, if it doesn't list any rules then you don't have a firewall active and should tweak it. If it says iptables isn't found then you definitely don't have a firewall running.
An antivirus would do little good, there's plenty of malicious code out there targeting linux but it's not going to be stopped by an antivirus program.
If however you completely ignore security in OSX fashion, then it'll run for a lot longer than a windows machine treated the same way.
The only real reason for you to install Anti-Virus on your Ubuntu machine is if you transfer/email files to people on Windows machines. You can scan the emails before you send them to ensure you're not going to be passing on anything malicious, even if you're unaffected by it.
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I believe that if you use something like Thunderbird it will scan your mail for you as well so no need for even that 
If your really new to Ubuntu... just after you install enter the Help on the desktop and it will tell you how to enable the Firewall if you want to use it. Very simple to do
If your really new to Ubuntu... just after you install enter the Help on the desktop and it will tell you how to enable the Firewall if you want to use it. Very simple to do
what version are you running? I personally have clamav installed for my anti virus as i dual boot with xp and i've installed gufw for my firewall.
Install no script, ad block, flash block as addons for firefox and have a look at privoxy for removing further ads and general junk
Install no script, ad block, flash block as addons for firefox and have a look at privoxy for removing further ads and general junk
what version are you running? I personally have clamav installed for my anti virus as i dual boot with xp and i've installed gufw for my firewall.
Install no script, ad block, flash block as addons for firefox and have a look at privoxy for removing further ads and general junk
I just downloaded ubuntu 10.10 and burnt it to a CD then installed to a hard drive from the CD. I am using Thunderbird for the Internet but not set up any mail accounts yet. I intend to use ubuntu on a laptop hard drive that I can easily switch in and out of the machine. That way, I can use another hard drive with Windows 7 and another with XP if I wish.
Rgds
Binty