Clams and shells

When i first started using GNU/Linux i didn't use an antivirus software. All users said "there are no viruses in GNU/Linux", and that's true but it is also true an infected file could damage a Windows PC but not a GNU/Linux PC, so still i could have an infected file and not knowing about it.

So after some time i realized i needed an antivirus software. I used to use Avast for Linux, 'cause i use Avast on Windows system and i rely on it. I have to say it does a good job, or apparently does a good job anyway. But now in my openSUSE system i just want to use open source software therefore i cannot use Avast anymore.

The best option in a GNU/Linux system is using Clamav [Clam antivirus]. The downside is newcomers will find a little hard to use since it just use command line interface, not a graphical interface. Of course there's also graphical interfaces to run Clamav but you lose that something that makes it special... and great.

For some time i used ClamTK, which is a GTK-based graphical interface to run Clamav and scan virus in a graphical more user friendly interface. But as i said i was missing something so i decided to learn basics Clamav commands.

So i downloaded Clamav manual from its website, i read a little and now i know a bit more about it. Basically you just need to know 2 commands:

fresclam to update the virus database, you can also do some tweaking and make virus definition to update automatically but i rather doing it manual.

clamscan -r [file or directory]-r stands for recursive scanning, you have to specify file or directory you want to scan also. You can see the output after scanning.


In order to use Clamav you, of course, have to download the package, in openSUSE i did it through Software Management in Yast. Also you need to log in as superuser in terminal. You can set the app to scan on-demand or on-access, all is explained in manual, you can learn more advanced commands typing man clamscan on terminal.