Do you really need antivirus on Linux?

since yesterday we come doing a review of the types of computer security tools and options available for Linux. In this post we are going to answer one of the most widespread myths by answering the question:Do you really need antivirus on Linux?

Viruses are a widespread form of malware that hinders or prevents computer systems from functioning.s and thanks to its ability to self-replicate, spread quickly to other computers.

Do you really need antivirus on Linux?

The job of antivirus programs is to protect computer systems from viruses and other malicious software thate can affect the operating system, applications and important files. I use the term malware as malware generally deals not only with viruses but also with worms, ransomware, spyware and adware.

This type of program seeks not only to detect and alert malicious software but also to eliminate it monitoring the different activities of the computer to find known patterns of malware or unusual behavior.

Databases of already known malware are used to detect patterns In the case of behavior, any unjustified activity will be taken as an indication and the user will be informed.

According to the settings established by the user, when detecting a potentially suspicious program, the antivirus will choose one of the following alternatives:

• Quarantine (isolate) the infected file.
• Delete or try to repair the infected file.
• Ask the user to decide the course of action.

In addition to computer activities, the antivirus program monitors in real time the Internet sites we browse, the files we download and the attachments wewe received by email.

Because new malware appears every day it is important to keep it updated so that the database on which its operation is based is up to date.

Very good Diego. But do we need an antivirus on Linux or not?

Let me make an analogy with sex. If you have a stable partner who you know is not cheating on you and the possibility of pregnancy is not something that worries you, the possibility of catching a sexually transmitted disease without using a condom is very low, but it does not disappear completely.

Your partner can be infected with blood contaminated by a transfusion, a syringe or an accidental cut.

If you don't have stable partners and you tend to prefer to have sex with promiscuous people, it's like playing Russian roulette with all the bullets in the magazine.

Returning to the topic at hand, Using Linux is like having sex with a stable partner. Its carefully measured system of granting access privileges to different parts of the system is a barrier to malicious software destroying sensitive components.

However, unless you completely disconnect from the network and do not manually install anything new, you are not safe. that a file sent to you by email or an unauthorized update through an attack on the repositories of your Linux distribution, is the entry point of malicious software.

And, remember that Being part of a network you are jointly and severally responsible for the general security. Even if you are not affected by the virus, you can be the asymptomatic carrier that spreads it.

In general, when it comes to home systems, the decision depends on each user. Where an antivirus must be installed is on corporate servers. Above all, in the event that they are used to send or receive email or as a platform for sharing files.

In recent years, commercial antiviruses have been appearing (Gossips say that this was the cause and not the consequence of the increase in malware for Linux) However, there are also open source alternatives that you can find in the repositories and that we will discuss in the next article.

In the meantime, I would like to know. Do you use any antivirus on Linux?