Virus protection for Linux
Is Nimda a threat to a Linux e-mail server? Are there any antivirus programs for Linux?

    Requires Free Membership to View

    SearchSecurity.com members gain immediate and unlimited access to breaking industry news, virus alerts, new hacker threats, highly focused security newsletters, and more -- all at no cost. Join me on SearchSecurity.com today!

    Michael S. Mimoso, Editorial Director

    By submitting your registration information to SearchSecurity.com you agree to receive email communications from TechTarget and TechTarget partners. We encourage you to read our Privacy Policy which contains important disclosures about how we collect and use your registration and other information. If you reside outside of the United States, by submitting this registration information you consent to having your personal data transferred to and processed in the United States. Your use of SearchSecurity.com is governed by our Terms of Use. You may contact us at webmaster@TechTarget.com.

Nimda is designed to attack Windows machines by exploiting security holes in Windows. Any infected mail sent to your mail server will be received, but as it is Linux-based, you do not have much to worry about with Nimda on the server. Of course, your mail users may be at risk from this or any other virus -- it does not make any difference what Operating System the server is running if the workstation is running an OS that can be attacked.

There are a number of Linux virus scanners available. You can search on Google for them. One you may wish to investigate is at www.amavis.org. Linux is not inherently virus-proof -- there are many Linux worms and viruses known, despite the claims of Linux promoters.


For more information on this topic, visit these other SearchSecurity.com resources:
  • Featured Topic: Nimda
  • Best Web Links: Malware
  • News & Analysis: Demand grows for antivirus for Linux


    This was first published in November 2002