Top 10 Linux Antivirus Tools to Secure Your Servers

Perhaps you wonder: if Linux is so secure, why do we need antivirus software?

Linux powers over 70% of web servers, making it a target for sophisticated malware. While its default security is strong, threats can still arise, and an automated antivirus can monitor and block malicious activity.

Here are the best antivirus solutions for Linux:

01 – Avast Antivirus

One of the world’s most known antivirus products, available for enterprises as a paid solution. Avast offers one of the best virus databases and is a solid investment for protecting servers. Download the package from the official website and install it.

02 – Chkrootkit

Developed by Pangea Informatica, Chkrootkit is a lightweight portable antivirus that detects rootkits on Linux, easy to use via command line, and can manage multiple errors.

03 – ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4

Often rated as the top choice for Linux/Ubuntu users, this paid version provides deep malware, spyware detection, and network security. It offers automatic updates for home and enterprise protection, with a free trial available.

04 – F-PROT

F-PROT serves both enterprise and home needs, supporting 32‑bit and 64‑bit architectures and protecting against over 21 million threats. It is free, portable, and can scan drives, trojans, macro viruses, and boot‑sector viruses.

05 – Panda Cloud Cleaner

Designed for users who dislike resource‑heavy background antivirus, Panda Cloud Cleaner can be downloaded on demand, made executable with chmod, and run to clean the system.

06 – Rootkit Hunter

Originally created by Michael Boelen, this command‑line tool detects and removes rootkits, viruses, and trojans, supports SHA‑1 comparisons, and is highly portable.

07 – ClamAV

Developed by Cisco Systems, ClamAV is a free open‑source antivirus available in most Linux repositories. Advanced users can use its CLI for scanning files, directories, and drives, offering strong malware detection.

08 – Firetools

Firetools, from the developers of the Firejail sandbox, provides a GUI sandbox to run scripts and software in isolation, complementing other antivirus scanners for enhanced security.

09 – Comodo

Comodo’s free antivirus offers real‑time protection, cross‑platform support for 32‑ and 64‑bit systems, on‑demand scanning, anti‑spam, anti‑malware tools, and a memory firewall.

10 – Sophos

Sophos is widely regarded as the best free Linux antivirus, offering on‑demand and real‑time scanning, and can also detect and remove viruses from other operating systems.