Why Do Not Need Antivirus on Linux?

Linux Does Not Need Antivirus

Believe it or not, there are antivirus programs for desktop Linux users. If you've just switched to Linux and are looking for an antivirus solution, don't worry - you don't need an antivirus on Linux.

There are a few situations when running an antivirus on Linux makes sense, but the average Linux desktop isn't one of them. You just want an antivirus to check for Windows malware.

Few Linux Viruses Exist in The Wild

The main reason you don't need an antivirus on Linux is because very little Linux malware exists in the wild. Windows malware is extremely common. Shady advertisements squeeze out malicious software that is practically malware, file sharing websites are full of infected programs, and malicious individuals target security vulnerabilities to install Windows malware without your permission. For this reason, using an antivirus program on Windows is an important layer of protection.

However, it is very unlikely that you would stumble upon - and be infected by - a Linux virus, just as you would be infected with malware on Windows.

Whatever the reason, Linux malware is not all over the internet like Windows malware. Using an antivirus is completely unnecessary for desktop Linux users.

Why Linux Is More Secure than Windows

Here are a few reasons Windows is struggling with a malware problem while a few malware targets Linux:

• Package Managers And Software Repositories: When You Want To Install A New Program On Your Windows Desktop, You Go To Google And Search For The Program. To Install Most Programs On Linux, Open Your Package Manager And Download It From Your Linux Distribution's Software Repositories. These Repositories Contain Trusted Software That Has Been Verified By Your Linux Distribution - Users Are Not Used To Downloading And Running Arbitrary Software.
• Other Security Features: Microsoft Has Done A Lot Of Work Fixing Serious Security Issues With Windows. Until The Introduction Of UAC With Windows Vista, Windows Users Almost Always Used The Administrator Account. Linux Users Typically Used Restricted User Accounts And Only Became Root When Needed. Linux Also Has Other Security Features Like AppArmor And SELinux.
• Market Share And Demographics: Linux Has Had A Small Market Share In The Past. It Was Also The Domain Of Geeks, Who Tend To Be More Computer Literate. Compared To Windows, It's Not Nearly As Big Or Simply A Goal.

Stay Safe on Linux

While you don't need an antivirus, there are a few basic security procedures that you must follow no matter what operating system you're using:

• Keep Your Software Updated: In An Age When Browsers And Their Plug-Ins - Especially Java And Flash - Are The Main Goals. It Is Important To Be Up To Date With The Latest Security Patches. The Biggest Malware Problem On Mac OS X Was Caused By The Java Plug-In. With Cross-Platform Software Like Java, The Same Vulnerability Can Work On Windows, Mac, And Linux. On Linux You Can Update All Of Your Software With A Single Built-In Updater.
• Beware Of Phishing: Phishing - Creating Websites That Pretend To Be Other Websites - Is Just As Dangerous On Linux Or Chrome OS As It Is On Windows. If You Visit A Website That Pretends To Be Your Bank's Website And Enter Your Banking Information, You Are In Trouble. Fortunately, Browsers Like Firefox And Chrome On Linux Have The Same Anti-Phishing Filter As They Do On Windows. You Don't Need An Internet Security Suite To Protect Against Phishing (Note, However, That The Phishing Filter Does Not Intercept Everything).
• Don't Run Commands You Don't Trust: Linux Command Prompt Is Powerful. Before Copying Into Terminal A Command You Read Somewhere, Ask Yourself If You Trust The Source. It Could Be One Of The 8 Deadly Commands You Should Never Run On Linux.

If You Need An Antivirus on Linux

Antivirus software is not entirely useless on Linux. If you run a Linux-based file server or mail server, you will likely want to use anti-virus software. If you don't, infected Windows computers can upload infected files to your Linux machine, which can infect other Windows systems.

The antivirus software looks for Windows malware and deletes it. It doesn't protect your Linux system - it protects the Windows computers from themselves.

You can also use a Linux Live CD to scan a Windows system for malware.

Linux is not perfect and all platforms are potentially vulnerable. However, as a practical matter, Linux desktops do not require antivirus software.