Which Linux Antivirus Tools Should You Know? A Detailed Overview
Although Linux is widely regarded as secure, the article explains why antivirus software is still valuable for Linux servers and desktops, and provides a concise review of ten popular Linux antivirus solutions, highlighting their features, licensing, and typical use cases.
01
Avast Antivirus – a globally known commercial antivirus that offers a paid edition for enterprises. The article notes that Avast has one of the best virus databases and recommends it as a solid investment for protecting servers.
02
Chkrootkit – a lightweight, portable rootkit detection tool developed by Pangea Informatica. It can be run from the command line, detects rootkits quickly, and provides batch error handling.
03
ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4 – frequently cited in tests as the top choice for Linux/Ubuntu users. It is a paid product that includes deep malware, spyware detection, and network security features, with automatic updates and a free trial option.
04
F‑PROT – supports both 32‑bit and 64‑bit architectures, protects against over 21 million threats, and is free and portable. It scans internal drives, drivers, trojans, macro viruses, and boot‑sector viruses.
05
Panda Cloud Cleaner – designed to minimize resource usage by downloading on demand. After downloading, the package is made executable with chmod and run directly.
06
Rootkit Hunter – originally created by Michael Boelen. It runs from the command line, detects backdoors and local exploits, supports SHA‑1 comparisons, and is highly portable.
07
ClamAV – an open‑source antivirus maintained by Cisco Systems, available in most Linux distribution repositories. Beginners may prefer the ClamTK GUI, while advanced users benefit from the command‑line interface for detailed control.
08
Firetools – a sandbox GUI built by the developers of Firejail. It isolates scripts and applications in a sandboxed environment, allowing users to test potentially malicious code without affecting the host system.
09
Comodo – a free, easy‑to‑install antivirus from Comodo Cybersecurity that offers real‑time protection, cross‑platform support for 32‑bit and 64‑bit systems, on‑demand scanning, anti‑spam, anti‑malware tools, and a memory firewall.
10
Sophos – widely regarded as the best free Linux antivirus. It provides on‑demand and real‑time scanning, can detect and remove viruses on other operating systems, and is praised for its lightweight footprint.
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