virus scanner on linux

['chris']

hi

should I install virus scanner on my linux and freeBSD server, except mail
or should forget this at the moment ?

the whole mail traffic will be scanned already.

how do you protect your linux machines ?

greetings
chris

['chris']

I patch my server with security updates regularly.

[Court Campbell · Accepted solution]

There are virus scanners out there for Linux. ClamAV is the first one that comes to mind. Just keep your apps/OS patched and you should be fine. Also make sure to disable services that you do not use, etc. I would suggest buying the O'reilly Practical Unix & Internet Security book.

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

Installing a virus scanner is not strictly necessary for a Linux server, even one exposed to the Internet.

The reason is that most viruses are aimed at the windows desktop.

However as Linux desktop use grows, this practice may need to change.

Also, Linux is frequently used for mail acceptance or relay and there can be a requirement that mail be scanned.

Take a look here:
http://www.howtoforge.com/taxonomy_menu/1/9/24?s=7f9c0d425446b66c6c42241118b1f249&

Spam assassin:
http://www.stearns.org/doc/spamassassin-setup.current.html#sitewide
Important because virus files can be attachemnts to spam. Stop the spam, stop the virus
http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/postfix/2003-04/1770.html
An example of making spam assassin work with a virus scanner.

Your second question:
I protect my Linux machines with powerful tools like firestarter, which makes it easy to protect many ports against outside threats. I as noted in the first response limit serverely the number of services that are running.

Shmuel

SEP

[Rob Leadbeater]

Hi Chris,

Even though most viruses are aimed at Windows, that's not an excuse for not using an AV product. Linux is commonly used for storing Windows files, via Samba, FTP servers, etc. so it's a good idea to make sure that viruses are not being stored...

Sophos has good support for Linux.

http://www.sophos.com/products/enterprise/endpoint/security-and-control/linux/index.html

Cheers,

Rob

[freebird (-.-)]

I agree with Rob.
Just because Linux is a great OS, and competently secure, you should still install a virus protection package.

Any of the free packages will do. Personally I use ClamAV, but my peers use AVG and Kaspersky.

--Rich

[skt_skt]

We use

Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine(TM) version 4.3 and the rpm is SYMCScan-4.3.8.29-1

[Nuwan Alwis]

A server that has been properly harden dosent need to be installed a AV software except if using it as samba server. because this can be a distribution point of virus to your network if any public access point is infected by any window virus. I have used bit defender on linux box and earlier AVG was also there.