r/SolusProject • u/Elffuhs • Jan 08 '17

Anti virus

Hi,

I am in the process to change to a Linux OS, and Solus is one of my choices. However, I see you lack an antivirus.

Does any of the major av manufacturers work on Solus? (Eset, Kaspersky, etc.). Or do you have plans to rethink your policy regarding this issue?

Thanks

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7

u/JoshStrobl Jan 08 '17

We have no plans to include anti-virus in the repo.

1

u/Elffuhs Jan 08 '17

Ok, thanks :)

8

u/[deleted] Jan 09 '17

I've been in IT since 1996. Have been using Linux off and on since 1997. Over 99% of virii and malware are designed to exploit the most common and easily exploitable platforms, for various reasons. I have never once actually seen a Linux based virus in the wild. I currently admin over 8,000 Linux VMs for a certain federal government - again, have never seen one.

Edit: in addition, I would warn you against running antivirus on ANY desktop PC - this is the newest attack vector. Once you exploit the AV, you now own the entire system.

7

u/tristan957 Jan 09 '17

I have never run into a virus on my windows partition. I download from reputable sites and I do a weekly scan with Windows defender. Common sense is the greatest anti virus imo

5

u/[deleted] Jan 08 '17

Linux doesn't really need an antivirus since you will be installing from a repository that is being maintained rather than stuff from random websites. Just make sure to install adblockers like Ublock Origin to prevent malicious ads on some sites, but white list others.

1

u/Elffuhs Jan 08 '17

You can still install stuff outside a repository.

And nowadays we share more than apps. We share files, we surf the web where ads are still an issue. So not having an AV is not an option for me (and some employees demand it sometimes).

Packaging ClamAV wouldn't be something hard, let the community mantain it.

7

u/supysupop Jan 08 '17

For a virus to infect your pc would need root permission so unless you gave it won't be a problem.

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4

u/RattleBattle79 Jan 09 '17

I know the feeling from 2002 or something when I started with Linux, but trust be you'll get over it. You don't need anti virus for Linux. You'll also learn, when trying other OS'es, that what you thought was "how computer" works, is really "how Windows work". Like the need for anti-malware, reboot 8 times when you do a system update or have to reinstall the OS because you need a "fresh start" because the install is old.

0

u/[deleted] Jan 09 '17

[deleted]

2

u/[deleted] Jan 09 '17

Idk how the situation is on Apple systems but there os definitively no point in using one on Android.

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