With the increase popularity of the linux desktop and the steamdeck, will new viruses and malwares be developed for linux systems? should we better use an antivirus?

  • Fryboyter@discuss.tchncs.de
    241·
    1 year ago
    • Virus scanners only detect a fraction of the harmful programmes.
    • Virus scanners can often be tricked.
    • Virus scanners often have security vulnerabilities themselves, which are usually quite serious, since such programmes embed themselves quite deeply in the operating system.
    • Virus scanners cause many users to become careless because they rely too much on such tools.

    Therefore, from my point of view, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Therefore, I do not have such a tool permanently installed, neither under Linux nor under Windows. However, every 6 months I scan my Windows installation with a USB-bootable virus scanner. No actually harmful programme has been found for years.

    In my opinion, the following things are much more important than any security software.

    • Install updates as soon as possible. Under Windows, you can use tools like Chocolatey for this.
    • Only install software from trustworthy sources.
    • Only install software that you really need.
    • Only use root or administrator rights if you have to. For everything else, the rights of the user account are sufficient.
    • Create backups regularly.
    • Think before you act.

    Especially the last point is a problem for many users. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve witnessed someone receiving an alleged invoice from mobile provider A by email and opening it, even though they had a contract with provider B.