Answer by don.joey for Do I need to have antivirus software installed?

I disagree with traditional answers that claim that no virus scan is needed. It is exactly that attitude that is making linux more and more vulnerable.

The only reason that no virusscan is needed is because black hackers tend to focus more on Window$ and portable devices. We actually have very little data about the actual amount of viruses and trojans in linux. This is also because there are very few security firms working on it. There are a few minor, public tools. There have been viruses in the past:

Alaeda – Virus.Linux.AlaedaBinom – Linux/BinomKagob a – Virus.Linux.Kagob.a

Don't "live in denial about linux malware." There is even a little guide, a how to.

That said, there is a virusscan in linux. It is a bit harder to use than traditional windows scanners, but I have used it in the past to get rid of viruses on jump drives that were infected on window$:

 sudo apt-get install clamav  # to install it man clamav  # for more info

Don't worry too much about viruses, but don't pretend that there is 100% certainty that they do not exist. So my answer is: there is probably no need to install a virusscan that is continuously monitoring your system, just don't think that there will never be or never have been linux viruses or that you will never need a virusscan.