The Linux operating system is an open-source OS and it is free. An operating system is software that manages the hardware and resources of a system, such as the memory, CPU, and storage. It lies between applications and hardware, connecting all of your software to the actual resources that perform the work. Linux distributions are ever more being used on business and home computers. Even though Linux operating systems are relatively stable and safe, they may not be fully free of risks. Due to the rise in cybercrime, any operating system, Windows, Mac, or Linux, requires protection. Previously, cyberbullies primarily targeted Windows and Mac users, but it appears that they have widened their reach to include Linux users as well. To address the problem or secure your device, you must install antivirus software on your computer. Let’s discuss the open-source antivirus software for Linux in this post:

ClamAV

In the list, the first place was still held by the Clam AntiVirus, also known as ClamAV. It is a cross-platform, free, open-source antimalware toolkit that can detect various malware, including viruses. It was created for Unix and is now available in third-party versions for AIX, BSD, Linux, HP-UX, etc. Also, its upgrades are accessible for free. One of its most common applications is a server-side email virus scanner on mail servers. The ClamAV team joined the Sourcefire Vulnerability Research Team after joining Sourcefire (VRT). It is a terminal-based antivirus that lacks a native GUI. It can scan compressed files and archives that support Zip, Rar, 7Zip, and Tar.

Features: 

  • It is multiplatform, and it is POSIX compliant and portable.
  • The command-line interface is the primary interface for this programme.
  • On-access scanning is supported.
  • It updates the virus database.
  • It can scan inside archives and compressed files as well as guard against archive bombs
  • It comes with built-in support for various formats.

Sophos

For Linux servers and desktops, Sophos Antivirus for Linux provides improved on-access scanning. It offers outstanding performance, stability, and reliability, as well as support for the most popular Linux distributions. Protect every PC on your network while meeting regulatory standards. It is administered centrally as part of their Endpoint Protection, alongside Sophos Protection for Windows, UNIX, Mac, and virtualised systems. Behavioural Genotype Protection protects against unknown hazards before they cause harm. Extensive file exclusions allow for selective scanning. It also alters the virus incidents’ administrators. Sophos Antivirus for Linux is an incredible choice for individual Linux users, but it is free for only one user. Sophos is a command-line-based security solution that is lightweight and free to use.

Features: 

  • It is simple to set up and operate quietly.
  • Sophos is both efficient and safe.
  • It can detect and stop malware with on-access, on-demand, or scheduled scanning.
  • Provides high performance while having a minimal impact on the system.  
  • It covers a wide choice of platforms.

Rootkit Hunter 

Rootkit Hunter (Rkhunter) is one of the favourite antiviruses for many people. The risk of using this antivirus is rare, and you can enjoy the results of this open-source software. It is a utility that scans for rootkits, backdoors, and local exploits on Linux/Unix systems. Rootkits are one of the most complex types of malware to identify and one of the most destructive. It was built using some very basic but successful design principles. It first searches its database for known rootkits and then examines system files for abnormal behaviour. This behaviour analysis tool is particularly useful for detecting new rootkits continually evolving to outsmart the most up-to-date antivirus directories. It is ideal for experts and not for beginners.

Features: 

  • Rootkit Hunter scans and detects malware and other dangerous objects using the SHA-1 hash comparison.
  • It works with the majority of UNIX platforms.
  • It is lightweight and employs a command-line interface.
  • Portable

Comodo 

Comodo Antivirus for Linux offers proactive malware protection as well as email filtering. It has the advantage of email filtering, with its added features for the fully adjustable antispam system. After a quick installation, the scan scheduler and event viewer can be started by following simple instructions. Automatic updates are optional and only include alarms for solid virus occurrences. It is one of the finest antiviruses for Linux, in addition to its cross-platform capabilities, it supports the Windows Firewall functionality on both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures. The auto-update of this antivirus for the regular security was found to be more helpful for the users of Linux. Every day, usually virus definitions are updated several times in this Comodo antivirus. 

Features: 

  • Pro-active
  • Simple to set up and utilise
  • In-Depth Reporting 
  • Flexible updates
  • Scan scheduler 

ClamTk 

ClamAV has been updated into ClamTK. There are slight differences between ClamAV and ClamTK which you can find. Users can have an easy-to-use antimalware software experience thanks to the lightweight GUI. Because ClamTK has a graphical user interface, any Linux user may start malware scanning with a few mouse clicks. It supports interaction with all main desktop environments for folder scanning. Because it is an on-demand virus scanner, it does not provide real-time protection, so you must be cautious when surfing the internet and examining suspicious files before taking action. The ClamTK is written in Perl, using the GTK toolkit, but once it was written with the TK widget toolkit. It is the reason for the name of the antivirus. Users can find the possibilities of reviewing the results of old scans and quarantined files in this ClamTk.

Features: 

  • Scans can be scheduled.
  • Set up scan schedules.
  • It should manually scan individual directories and files.
  • It is compatible with the majority of Linux distributions. Updated definitions are available for download.

F-PROT 

F-PROT is the best antivirus for consumers who want to protect themselves with the least amount of overhead. It also features one of the most comprehensive malware databases available. F-Prot excels at a single task, and that is safeguarding your PC from viruses. Experts have discovered that its low prices, fast user interface, and outstanding virus hunting capabilities make it a worthwhile purchase. FRISK Software International (FSI) is an Icelandic software firm that produces the antivirus software F-Prot and F-Prot Antivirus AVES, as well as antispam services. F-Prot Antivirus is available in both home and business editions, including Windows, Linux, and BSD versions. A strong antivirus scanner is included with F-Prot. It is incredibly simple to set up for any user. The menus are straightforward, reflecting the program’s “essentials first” attitude.

Features: 

  • Planned scans
  • Scan on demand
  • Supports internal HDD and SSD
  • Boot sector viruses

Chkrootkit 

To deal with rootkit issues, you should use several methods to detect them. ChkrootKit is one of the most well-known rootkit detectors. It is a portable solution, which means you may burn it to a CD or DVD or write it to a USB stick to keep it with you at all times. Because rootkits are usually present at the start and can disguise themselves from ordinary AV solutions, this is the right technique to employ as a rootkit checker. Of course, ChkrootKit does not have to be used with an external drive, and it may be installed on a machine and operated from the command line. Since it is a free and open-source one, users don’t need to worry about their budget and enjoy the features of this antivirus for Linux.

Features: 

  • Lightweight and portable
  • Runs from terminal
  • Simple to use
  • It is highly fast to utilise
  • Accessible for several Linux distributions.

BitDefender For Unices

Maybe there is no chance of a virus attack on Linux, but cybercrime has been raised high. So, the help of antivirus is even required for Linux users also. BitDefender For Unices is an unavoidable antivirus to mention. It is a powerful on-demand antivirus scanner for Linux and FreeBSD. The standalone scanner protects both UNIX- and Windows-based disc partitions by checking for viruses and spyware. The scanner is self-contained and does not require centralised management or local update servers. A powerful command-line interface that fully supports the operating system’s scripting capabilities combines an easy-to-use graphical user interface.

Features: 

  • It allows archives to be scanned.
  • It lets you use desktop integration.
  • It offers a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) and a robust command-line interface (CLI) that supports OS scripting tools.
  • It can isolate infected files in a secure directory.

Winding it up: 

While the Linux community works to reduce vulnerabilities in distributed software, each piece of software can be infected with malware. There is a lot of Linux-specific malware, even if you get the newest updates. Furthermore, downloading files from sources other than your software repository increases your risk of infection. There is also the matter of online security dangers to consider. Hackers can infiltrate your machine via your browser by using Javascript. You are merely a click away from downloading malware in numerous places on the internet. So, the open-source antivirus is important for Linux and considers the list given earlier. Use the one which provides satisfaction to you.