Looks like my next step may involve testing some open source antivirus software, but in typical Linux fashion it looks to be confusing, so far…at best. Have narrowed down my list to just ClamAV – some others looked too iffy at first glance, so will go with ClamAV first.
What a pain…just to add a basic app like antivirus. Windows 10 comes with its own Windows Security, and I suggest that you go in that direction – newbie or oldie. Linux is ridiculous far too often! I’m working in the developmental 20.04 Ubuntu version, and may try the Ubuntu LTS 18.04.4 version later.
Only way I found to install it was thru the command prompt…then having to download a .tar.gz file and then extracting it. Couldn’t find it or figure out how to find it even after all that. It finally showed up in Ubuntu Software…well, after the command prompt & extracting, the ClamTk graphical front-end version for ClamAV showed up in Ubuntu Software. Installed that, and ClamAV opened graphically. However, it’s the worse looking antivirus so-called software I have ever seen…certainly not to be trusted protecting any main system I use. ClamAV is supposed to be one of the better free and open source antivirus software, so I’d hate to waste time testing any of the others. Probably best to just buy a real antivirus app if you are going to use Linux as your main OS.
That was a Terrible experience!!!!!
Linux and malware: Should you worry?
Malicious code is nothing to worry about on Linux, right? Hold your penguins. How Linux malware has gone from the sidelines to the headlines.
Gone are the days when the idea of viruses or other malware hitting Linux was almost universally greeted with quizzical glances, if not outright rejection. Long thought of as the perfect marriage of open-source goodness and strong, Unix-like security, Linux-based operating systems are now increasingly seen as another valuable – and viable – target.
This shift in thinking is partly the result of a growing realization among both Linux hobbyists and system administrators that a compromised Linux system such as a web server provides attackers an excellent ‘return on investment’. Just as importantly, malware research in recent years has brought better visibility into threats facing Linux systems.
Microsoft is trying to help Linux handle the security issues, but I’m not sure how well that will go – other than Distros like Ubuntu who are willing to work with Microsoft. Apparently Microsoft has already built an early Windows version of Linux – Azure Sphere OS:
The Azure Sphere OS is a custom Linux-based microcontroller operating system created by Microsoft to run on an Azure Sphere-certified chip and to connect to the Azure Sphere Security Service. The Azure Sphere OS provides a platform for Internet of Things application development, including both high-level applications and real-time capable applications. It is the first operating system running a Linux kernel that Microsoft has publicly released and the second Unix-like operating system that the company has developed for external (public) users, the other being Xenix.
I don’t think you can download it…seems to be a package ‘tHiNgIe‘ involving the Azure cloud stuff, I think. A lot is going on right now…I certainly can’t keep up! Anyway, I’ll add this post to the Linux Security Issues page.
Linux Newbie - since 1996 