4 Reasons Why You DON’T Need An Antivirus on Linux
Although there are currently Antivirus in Linux as ClamAV that comes by default in a large number of distributions, the use of an Antivirus seems almost a waste of resources for most users in this operating system. In the following, we explain why.
Less Exposed:
Many of the viruses and malware that you can run into work and are ready to affect the Windows operating system and the applications that are compatible with it.
Linux viruses exist today but are much less widespread than in the Microsoft operating system for logical reasons; many more computers are using Windows than Linux.
Architecture:
The architecture of a Linux operating system requires having root permissions to make any modifications. This is a barrier that makes it difficult for any virus to sneak into the system and make disasters.
Although Microsoft's latest operating systems have significantly improved the security aspect, even today, Linux is still considered a much safer and more secure operating system against viruses or malware that want privileges in the system.
We recommend reading: The 5 advantages of Linux over Windows
Software Installation Through Repositories:
All Linux distributions have official repositories, that is, applications that are signed and verified for proper operation and that do not have vulnerability problems.
If you only install official applications of the repositories, it is almost impossible for viruses to leak into the system. This is different from Windows, where there is nothing similar to repositories, and you can install any application that you find without any guarantee that it is not malicious software.
We also recommend reading: How to update the Linux Kernel from the Ubuntu Terminal
Security Depends on the Updated System, Not An Antivirus:
The most effective way to have a secure system and protected against any eventuality is not to have an Antivirus but to keep the updates up to date, install software only from the official repositories, configure the firewall correctly, and above all take care of which pages you visit.
Conclusions:
Perhaps it is a bit of an exaggeration to say that you do not need an Antivirus in Linux because although the risk is much lower than in Windows, there is still the possibility of infection.
If you still want to use an Antivirus, one of the most recommendable is the one we named at the beginning of this article. ClamAV is free (of course) and consumes very few resources activated.
