Do you run a virus scanner in linux?

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I dont. Maybe if i used a smaller distro like arch I might.

What's a virus scanner?

(I am only joking)

Yes, but its an excellent joke!

Seriously now, how many viruses are aimed at the Linux distros?

Not very many.

The reason I started the topic was because my linux buddy(who got me into it), kept pressing me to try ClamAV. I know that lau uses it too. I made the decision after a good deal of reading to forgo such ventures. From what I learned you will get a lot of false positives as it will pick up the windows viruses signatures.

Unlikely for me as well, as I dont use wine.

Anyway. My buddy is rather conservative and maybe a little paranoid. And a little on the spectrum too, so I figured I would inquire as to other aspies predilections.

That is why I spent 2 weeks sorting out my wireless card probs with Ubuntu, I got sick of fixing up windows. So far no malware, viruses, spyware etc. I will get suspicious if major Anti Virus companies start promoting Linux versions because that is who I think writes the viruses in the first place (them and of course evil linux users ) its called marketing

I think the first virus was written by a company that you had to BUY the software from so it will be removed. I can't remember all the details, so it may have inaccuracies.

I, too have been suspicious of Virus writers, is it the anti-virus software companies or people who want to attack Windows versions?

Linux is targeted more by rootkits than by viruses in the Windows sense.

I have clam av, I use it to scan files I'm emailing to folk and what not.

I've not even bothered to vote as I'm still deciding how to set up my computers. I think I may have a plan...

The answer is "No, you don't."

Ah... I actually answered "No", because I don't really run ClamAV for Linux viruses.

I just feel it is a "good idea" to run ClamAV, because I'm running a few servers, including an MTA. I also run with a firewall, and two rootkit checks. I've never seen a peep out of any of them (except the firewall, which shows me the idiots trying to access the Windows' non-security).

The log from Apache2 makes quite interesting reading, at times. Again, there are people who have no brains. A week ago, some fool spent 18 minutes making 725 invalid requests, nearly half of which were immediately recognisable as attacks on purely Microsoft stuff - plus a bunch of attempts at "Cold Fusion" directories, and so on. Tedious. I reported them to their ISP.

I'm not joking: what is a virus scanner?

Seriously. I really don't know what a virus scanner is. I don't think I've ever used one, though.

Virus scanner

There are variations in exactly what people mean when they say it.

I don't even use a virus-scanner in Windows.