For this reason, many Linux users have long believed that the OS doesn’t need antivirus software. However, while Linux use on desktops has historically remained at relatively low levels, the inverse is true for servers. Antivirus is necessary for cybersecurity teams that wish to better protect their endpoints.
The next thing we asked ourselves was; do linux need antivirus?
Anti-virus software does exist for Linux, but you probably don’t need to use it. Viruses that affect Linux are still very rare. Some argue that this is because Linux is not as widely used as other operating systems, so no one writes viruses for it.
Our favorite answer was if you are running a Linux-based file server or mail server, you will probably want to use antivirus software. If you don’t, infected Windows computers may upload infected files to your Linux machine, allowing it to infect other Windows systems. The antivirus software will scan for Windows malware and delete it.
Do you need an antivirus vault for Linux?
There’s no need for an antivirus vault here. Almost all Linux distributions, the Linux kernel, and the most prominent software are updated regularly. With their code in the open, vulnerabilities are found and fixed more quickly than in the closed-source world of Windows and Mac OS.
Yet another inquiry we ran across in our research was “Is AVG AntiVirus safe to use on Linux?”.
Many Linux systems allow a user to download free programes like AVG antivirus or an open-source software from the internet. If the newly downloaded software contains harmful content like viruses, there is a high risk your machine or Linux server will be compromised.
Can Linux get viruses?
However, you are very unlikely to stumble on — and be infected by — a Linux virus in the same way you would be infected by a piece of malware on Windows. Whatever the reason, Linux malware isn’t all over the Internet like Windows malware is. Using an antivirus is completely unnecessary for desktop Linux users.
How to protect Linux from malware and viruses?
Here are precautions to take to protect your Linux machines from threats such as malware or viruses, Linux user is advised to get trusted software from authorized repositories such as Github. If you are running cross-platform with a windows workstation; make sure to get up-to-date anti-virus software.