this post was submitted on 24 Nov 2025
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Linux Antivirus? (lemmy.wtf)
submitted 4 days ago by UNY0N@lemmy.wtf to c/linux@lemmy.world
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I'm about to install bazzite on my wife's older (2017) Windows 10 machine, and I've been going over how to recreate everything she currently has. Most programs (even proprietary ones) are not an issue, but I'm not finding much in the antivirus department.

I never even thought to install one on my Linux machine (also on bazzite, but I have used other distros in the past). So although I am no stranger to Linux, this issue blindsided me.

I know clamav exists, and I'm educating myself on how to use it, but a GUI would be nice for the wife. She's not afraid of the terminal, but she likes the convenience of GUI programs.

Any suggestions? What do you use? Or is it just generally accepted that one should be careful and keep things up-to-date and that's enough?

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[–] squaresinger@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

In general with Linux sites with deb/rpm/etc files would usually include hashes for the genuine versions etc. Not to say the actual author of these could be malicious.

Imho, these hashes are hardly a security feature. If a malicious actor can control the file that you download, they likely can also control the hash.

Even with sandboxing, they generally need access to save files/load files etc from the host environment. Where are these connections defined? Could a malicious actor for example grant their malicious appimage/flatpak more access? Genuine questions, I’ve never looked into how these work.

Good question. I hope there's some form of security present, but I really don't know.

But in the end, the most valuable stuff on a computer is user data anyway. Who needs root on a machine, if the attacker can also encrypt all your personal files?