Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Mac Security => Topic started by: david38400 on March 18, 2010, 04:52:14 AM
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I am wondering if Avast is any good on Linux Mint 8. I download a week ago and firstly I see that it doesn't run permanently, it only runs when you ask it to do a check. I tried running a thorough scan of the entire system and on all occasion an error comes up so it doesn't do anything. If I run a quick scan its ok. Maybe I am not using it correctly. I have updated the database so this isnt the problem. If this error keeps ocurring and it only works when I ask it to then it seems pretty useless to me.
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Avast isn't resident on Linux, has never been, will never be ;)
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What was the error message?
BTW, avast! works fine in my Ubuntu Karmic Koala system.
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Will never be ;)
Why not? They could develop that... there are programs that run "as residents" in Linux.
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I am wondering if Avast is any good on Linux Mint 8. I download a week ago and firstly I see that it doesn't run permanently, it only runs when you ask it to do a check. I tried running a thorough scan of the entire system and on all occasion an error comes up so it doesn't do anything. If I run a quick scan its ok. Maybe I am not using it correctly. I have updated the database so this isnt the problem. If this error keeps ocurring and it only works when I ask it to then it seems pretty useless to me.
In two and a half years of using Linux, I've never come across a Linux virus, let alone come across one, decided to run it, decided to type in my password and been infected.
You don't need resident anti-virus protection in Linux, unless you're running a web server, in which case there are ways of doing it.
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Endless discussion.
I'm only saying it's technological possible. And then, why not?
You can prevent infection of Windows partitions and it's not impossible to exploit Linux also.
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I am wondering if Avast is any good on Linux Mint 8. I download a week ago and firstly I see that it doesn't run permanently, it only runs when you ask it to do a check. I tried running a thorough scan of the entire system and on all occasion an error comes up so it doesn't do anything. If I run a quick scan its ok. Maybe I am not using it correctly. I have updated the database so this isnt the problem. If this error keeps ocurring and it only works when I ask it to then it seems pretty useless to me.
In two and a half years of using Linux, I've never come across a Linux virus, let alone come across one, decided to run it, decided to type in my password and been infected.
You don't need resident anti-virus protection in Linux, unless you're running a web server, in which case there are ways of doing it.
exactly, compared to the hundreds and hundreds of thousand viruses lurking around Windows, I read about "40" existed that could affect Linux, if you're unlucky enough to meet them ;D Now there's the argument of a shared NTFS partition, and/or shared USB keys that could get infected with malware while browsing in Linux and then infect Windows when you boot into it. I never really cared; I don't dual-boot with Linux currently but will again one of these days, and chances are poor that I'll ever install an anti-virus on it. First I don't share NTFS partitions (+ access denied from Linux into those partitions), I don't use NTFS at all in Linux and I'm being careful with the USB keys, definitely needed at least to transfer files between the two OS (faster than cloud so far ;D). This said I do mind that there aren't better firewalls for Linux, but that's another topic.
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Endless discussion.
I'm only saying it's technological possible. And then, why not?
You can prevent infection of Windows partitions and it's not impossible to exploit Linux also.
I don't remember why...because I didn't care that much to be honest, but I'm pretty sure I read that the Linux architecture prevented somehow the implementation of any resident AV. It's not a flaw, it's a security feature ;)
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I kinda doubt that, because the server version of avast! does have an on-access scanner. ;)
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I was talking about Linux desktop versions here... ;) ...so what stops you if it works on the servers to do the same for desktop ???
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There are resident programs in Linux. The architecture of the OS allows services running as resident.
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There are resident programs in Linux. The architecture of the OS allows services running as resident.
this you don't need to tell me, I know, I just thought there were restrictions preventing resident AV to access some areas in the /root partition. Anyway I might be wrong as I just found that ClamAV (Linux version) was resident...to what extend I don't now.
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There are resident programs in Linux. The architecture of the OS allows services running as resident.
this you don't need to tell me, I know, I just thought there were restrictions preventing resident AV to access some areas in the /root partition. Anyway I might be wrong as I just found that ClamAV (Linux version) was resident...to what extend I don't now.
Since the OS support multiple tasks, the term "resident" has lost its meaning. Some people mix it with "on access" - but that's about when the scan is done, not about the "resident" nature of the scanner - which is, in the fact, resident by principle.
So yes, on linux, there's an on access solution, too - avastguard + avast4server. on newer kernels , you might compile dazuko on the top of redirfs.
regards,
pc