- Best Antiviruses for Linux Mint 21
- Best Antiviruses for Linux Mint
- 1: Avast
- 2: Comodo
- 3: ClamAV
- 4: mcAfee
- 5: Sophos
- Comparison of Five Powerful Linux Antivirus
- Bottom Line
- About the author
- Zainab Rehman
- Security in Linux Mint and Ubuntu | Explanation and Tips
- Security Features offered by Linux Mint and Ubuntu
- 1: Firewall
- 2: Open-Source Systems
- 3: Multiple User accounts
- Tips to Maximize the Security in Linux Mint and Ubuntu
- 1: Choose FDE (Full Disk Encryption)
- 2: Keep the OS Up-to-Date
- 3: Disable Secure Boot
- 4: Enable Pre-Installed Firewall
- 5: Use a VPN When on Public Wi-Fi
- 6: Install Software from Trusted Repositories
- 7: Remove Java if You Don’t Use Java Programs
- Bottom Line
- About the author
- Zainab Rehman
Best Antiviruses for Linux Mint 21
Linux systems are stable and secure but they are often attacked by viruses. Although surfing the web and watching a video seems harmless, there are cyber security risks to your device. Various types of software known as malware can be used to monitor what you are doing and can steal personal information. That’s why you need antivirus, they are the programs that protect your system from the attack of malware and viruses.
These programs can help you to protect not only your device but your information, from hackers and scammers. There are various antivirus software programs available for the Linux Mint. Whether you are looking for a free software antivirus or willing to pay for a program we have covered the best antivirus for your Linux system.
Best Antiviruses for Linux Mint
Malware such as trojans and worms invade the Linux device and cause harm to your system. In order to protect your Linux devices from such viruses, you need a strong antivirus program. Some of the best programs for the Linux Mint are listed below:
1: Avast
Avast is the most popular and most used antivirus software for Linux Mint. It protects your Linux system from online threats. Some of the popular features offered by Avast software are:
- It scans all the files of the device and online files
- The software is automatically updated on regular basis to provide the protection against latest threats
- It prevents unauthorized access to your system
- It can be run through command line
The Pros and Cons of the Avast software are:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
The background scanning is good | It consumes a lot of space |
It has user-friendly interface | Slow the speed of the device |
Advanced firewall protection and comes with useful features | It is not an open source |
2: Comodo
The other most demanded virus scanner for Linux based systems is Comodo. Below are key features of this tool:
- It provided security by checking the cloud files
- Protects the device from all upcoming threats
- It updates automatically to protect the device from new threats
The pros and cons of the Comodo tool are:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
It provides impressive features | The protection from phishing is not too good |
It comes with a secure browser | It slows down the system |
It is an effective sandbox tool | It is a bit complicated |
3: ClamAV
It is the free and open-source tool for Linux based systems. It detects trojans, viruses, and malware. Below we have listed some features offered by ClamAV:
- It is easy to install and use tool
- Provides the work from the command line interface
- It Provides database updates
- Scans within archives and compressed files
- Update database multiple types in a day
Following are the pros and cons of the ClamAV:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
It is free and open-source program | It offers the limited features as compared to other antiviruses |
It is easy to use and customizable | It has the lower detection rate for some malware |
It is compatible with almost every Linux distro | It affects the performance of system |
4: mcAfee
mcAfee antivirus is compatible with almost all devices and is available for the Linux. The features of mcAfee are written below:
- It provides the real-time protection against viruses
- It ran in the background and detect virus anytime they enter in the device
- It blocks new viruses using heuristic scanning
The pros and cons of the mcAfee are:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Firewall protection for hybrid networks | Random pops up of the software can be annoying |
It user-friendly | Block the useful websites |
Stays up to date | Take alot of time while scanning |
5: Sophos
Sophos is the powerful free Linux antivirus, some of the features of this tool are listed below:
- It provides the real time scanning of the directories in the Linux
- Users can scan the system at any time
- The software update automatically
- It is helpful for Linux users as it can be launch via command line
The Pros and Cons of the Sophos:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
It is effective in removing the malware from the system | Consumes more memory and slows down the system |
Easy to install and has a user-friendly interface | It does not offer protection against all types of malwares |
It has a free version | Free version lacks advance features |
Comparison of Five Powerful Linux Antivirus
Below we have compared the features of the five powerful and best antivirus tools for Linux Mint:
Antivirus Software | Avast | Comodo | Clam AV | McAfee | Sophos |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Supported Platforms | Linux, Windows, macOS | Linux, Windows | Linux, macOS | Linux, Windows, macOS | Linux, Windows, macOS |
Price | Partially free | Partially | Free | Paid | Partially |
Features | Real-time protection, malware scanning, firewall, email protection, web protection, Wi-Fi security scanner | Real-time protection, malware scanning, firewall, HIPS, sandboxing, cloud-based threat analysis | Malware scanning, command-line scanner, database updater | Real-time protection, malware scanning, firewall, web protection, email protection | Real-time protection, malware scanning, firewall, web protection, email protection, application control |
User Interface | Modern and easy to use | Modern and easy to use | Command-line interface | Modern and easy to use | Modern and easy to use |
Performance | Light on system resources | Can be resource-heavy | Light on system resources | Can be resource-heavy | Light on system resources |
Detection Rate | Good | Good | Average | Good | Good |
False Positives | Some reports of false positives | Some reports of false positives | Few reports of false positives | Some reports of false positives | Some reports of false positives |
Customer Support | Good | Good | Limited | Good | Good |
Bottom Line
Linux is the most secure operating system; however, viruses and malware still attack the system. Having good antivirus software installed on your system provides an additional layer of security. There are several antivirus tools available for the Linux Mint, we have listed the top three most popular and widely used antivirus software. Choose the one according to your requirements.
About the author
Zainab Rehman
I’m an author by profession. My interest in the internet world motivates me to write for Linux Hint and I’m here to share my knowledge with others.
Security in Linux Mint and Ubuntu | Explanation and Tips
Linux Mint and Ubuntu both are the top distributions of Linux and they are famous because of their user-friendly interface and reliability. They both are secure and stable much more than Windows. Although they both are secure users still need additional security options to keep their data safe and secure. In this article, we will discuss the security offered by Linux Mint and Ubuntu and will give you some tips to remain secure.
Security Features offered by Linux Mint and Ubuntu
The key security features offered by Linux Mint and Ubuntu are:
1: Firewall
They both come with built-in firewall protection that helps you to protect your system from unauthorized access. The firewall is disabled in both the distro, but enabling them is easy. You can enable them from the settings of the device or through the command line.
2: Open-Source Systems
They both are open source and the package managers in both keep their systems up to date. The regular updation of the system protects it from unknown and known viruses and malware.
3: Multiple User accounts
You can create multiple user accounts on both Linux Mint and Ubuntu. By doing so you can minimize access to your account and protect your data.
Tips to Maximize the Security in Linux Mint and Ubuntu
Although Linux Mint and Ubuntu provide the maximum security to their users, still you can follow the below mentioned tips to enhance security:
1: Choose FDE (Full Disk Encryption)
FDE is full disk encryption, no matter what OS distro you are using, always use the FDE. If your laptop is lost or stolen, using a simple password will not protect your data. Anyone can log in to their device with a simple USB key. By encrypting the hard drive, you ensure the security of your data you will no longer be worried about your important files.
2: Keep the OS Up-to-Date
They both are open-source systems and regularly updating the system and applications will protect your device. Open-source systems are more up-to-date than closed ones.
3: Disable Secure Boot
Disable the secure boot from the terminal, it will remove the Microsoft vendor’s lock from your device and it does not harm your device.
To disable the secure boot, open the terminal and execute the following command and hit enter:
4: Enable Pre-Installed Firewall
Firewall provides the extra layer of security to the systems. Linux Mint comes with a pre-installed Firewall, but it is inactive. To activate the Firewall, open the terminal and run the following command:
5: Use a VPN When on Public Wi-Fi
Connecting to a public Wi-Fi is always a risk and VPN provides security, if you are using the Wi-Fi in public places on your laptops. If you are working at home or using a private network then it will not provide any harm to your device. Always connect a public Wi-Fi through a VPN on your Linux system.
6: Install Software from Trusted Repositories
In Linux, users download the software from the repositories and it is an advantage to Linux users over other users. The most trustworthy repositories are the ones that are provided by Linux Mint. if you are downloading the software from a third-party repository then be careful and do proper research before installing it.
7: Remove Java if You Don’t Use Java Programs
Java is the target on all platforms so removing it will provide you additional security. OpenJDK is the default Java source on your Linux Mint, remove it using the following command:
Bottom Line
Linux is one of the secure operating systems. The Linux Mint and Ubuntu both are secure distributions of Linux and they offer multiple security features to the users. To maximize security while using them you can follow the above-mentioned tips.
About the author
Zainab Rehman
I’m an author by profession. My interest in the internet world motivates me to write for Linux Hint and I’m here to share my knowledge with others.