Are there any good FREE Anti-Virus programs for Linux?

P.S. I understand that there aren't many viruses that affect Linux. Most
Linux AV programs end up detecting Windows viruses. But being able to
identify Windows viruses while using Linux would be a plus. I don't want to
pass on a file affected with a virus to a Windows user.

Rob

On Sat, 22 Nov 2003 09:25:26 -0500, Rob wrote:

> Are there any good FREE Anti-Virus programs for Linux?
>
> P.S. I understand that there aren't many viruses that affect Linux. Most
> Linux AV programs end up detecting Windows viruses. But being able to
> identify Windows viruses while using Linux would be a plus. I don't want to
> pass on a file affected with a virus to a Windows user.
>
> Rob

F-Prot for Linux is free and pretty much standard. I'm on a console so I
can't give you a link, but you can just Google for: Frisk to get their
main page.

Roger RamJet wrote:
> On Sat, 22 Nov 2003 09:25:26 -0500, Rob wrote:
>
>> Are there any good FREE Anti-Virus programs for Linux?
>>
>> P.S. I understand that there aren't many viruses that affect Linux.
>> Most Linux AV programs end up detecting Windows viruses. But being
>> able to identify Windows viruses while using Linux would be a plus.
>> I don't want to pass on a file affected with a virus to a Windows
>> user.
>>
>> Rob
>
> F-Prot for Linux is free and pretty much standard. I'm on a console
> so I can't give you a link, but you can just Google for: Frisk to get
> their
> main page.

Many thanks for the info. F-PROT is a great program. I use it on Windows
(in a DOS box).
But I was hoping for a free AV program with a real-time scanner like AVG.
Maybe one day...

Rob

"Rob" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:L8Pvb.22125$(E-Mail Removed):

> Roger RamJet wrote:
>> On Sat, 22 Nov 2003 09:25:26 -0500, Rob wrote:
>>
>>> Are there any good FREE Anti-Virus programs for Linux?
>>>
>>> P.S. I understand that there aren't many viruses that affect
>>> Linux. Most Linux AV programs end up detecting Windows viruses.
>>> But being able to identify Windows viruses while using Linux
>>> would be a plus. I don't want to pass on a file affected with a
>>> virus to a Windows user.
>>>
>>> Rob
>>
>> F-Prot for Linux is free and pretty much standard. I'm on a
>> console so I can't give you a link, but you can just Google for:
>> Frisk to get their main page.
>
> Many thanks for the info. F-PROT is a great program. I use it on
> Windows (in a DOS box).
> But I was hoping for a free AV program with a real-time scanner
> like AVG. Maybe one day...
>
Not necessary. Just don't log in as root and you'll be ok.

--
Tiger

"In the devil's theology, the important thing is to be absolutely right
and prove everyone else is absolutely wrong." - Thomas Merton

Tiger wrote:
> "Rob" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> news:L8Pvb.22125$(E-Mail Removed):
>
>> Roger RamJet wrote:
>>> On Sat, 22 Nov 2003 09:25:26 -0500, Rob wrote:
>>>
>>>> Are there any good FREE Anti-Virus programs for Linux?
>>>>
>>>> P.S. I understand that there aren't many viruses that affect
>>>> Linux. Most Linux AV programs end up detecting Windows viruses.
>>>> But being able to identify Windows viruses while using Linux
>>>> would be a plus. I don't want to pass on a file affected with a
>>>> virus to a Windows user.
>>>>
>>>> Rob
>>>
>>> F-Prot for Linux is free and pretty much standard. I'm on a
>>> console so I can't give you a link, but you can just Google for:
>>> Frisk to get their main page.
>>
>> Many thanks for the info. F-PROT is a great program. I use it on
>> Windows (in a DOS box).
>> But I was hoping for a free AV program with a real-time scanner
>> like AVG. Maybe one day...
>>
> Not necessary. Just don't log in as root and you'll be ok.

Yes, if you don't log in as root you will definitely limit any damage caused
by a virus or trojan (since the important system files cannot be changed or
modified). The virus will not be able to establish itself and run each time
you boot your computer.

But I suspect that some well designed malware (such as a virus or trojan)
might be able to delete some user files in a Linux system...

In any event I was hoping to find a real time AV scanner for Linux so that I
can detect and delete any WINDOWS viruses in EMAILS etc and prevent me from
passing them to my friends.

Rob

Rob wrote:

> But I suspect that some well designed malware (such as a virus or
> trojan) might be able to delete some user files in a Linux system...

Well, there is the theoretical possibility that a virus gets root
priviliges by hijacking a process with root abilities (for example the
printer daemon). Then it could do harm.

> In any event I was hoping to find a real time AV scanner for Linux so
> that I can detect and delete any WINDOWS viruses in EMAILS etc and
> prevent me from passing them to my friends.

Well, since the viri cannot forward themselves and cannot be installed,
you would need to send the virus to your friends personally. And that is
completely impossible as long as you send plain text mails.

The only viri you could send are Macroviri and Programviri. Those can be
easily detected with a command line scanner, scanned once after
downloading, you do not need to search for them permanently.

bye,

Onno

Rob wrote:
> Are there any good FREE Anti-Virus programs for Linux?
>
> P.S. I understand that there aren't many viruses that affect Linux.
> Most Linux AV programs end up detecting Windows viruses. But being
> able to identify Windows viruses while using Linux would be a plus.
> I don't want to pass on a file affected with a virus to a Windows
> user.
>
> Rob

I found one --- Clam Anti-Virus at http://clamav.elektrapro.com/
It doesn't look bad. It will scan for all those nasty Windows viruses (and
the odd Linux virus) that are attached to my mail and get rid of them!

Rob

"Rob" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:clKvb.21522$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Are there any good FREE Anti-Virus programs for Linux?
>
> P.S. I understand that there aren't many viruses that affect Linux. Most
> Linux AV programs end up detecting Windows viruses. But being able to
> identify Windows viruses while using Linux would be a plus. I don't want to
> pass on a file affected with a virus to a Windows user.
>
> Rob

If you wish to avoid email viruses, just don't run
MS Outlook Express via WINE. ;-)

F-prot is a great commandline scanner. Is there
currently a graphical front end for this?

"Rob" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:sPPvb.22222$(E-Mail Removed):

> In any event I was hoping to find a real time AV scanner for Linux
> so that I can detect and delete any WINDOWS viruses in EMAILS etc
> and prevent me from passing them to my friends.


If the deep root of your question is fully in that
idea of blocking virus spread thru email you may be
interested in using one of these 2 tools :
MimeDefang: http://www.mimedefang.org/
Amavis: http://www.amavis.org/

Wich are engines to use any AV you'd like on
whatever you'd like to put them against, in the
process of MTA/MDA.

I recommend any of them ( I installed them on many hosts )
though you'd better chose directly MimeDefang if
you think of using SpamAssassin too.

This said, I mostly install this on big servers as I
thing the best AV for desktops (just like the best webnanny )
is the use of brains and the reflex of not clicking anytime
anything anyhow ;-)