An antivirus scanner for Linux servers with Windows clients
Newcomers in particular wonder about the security of the still unfamiliar Linux operating system. Can you really do without an antivirus scanner on Linux, and if so, should you do so? Can you really bank online without an antivirus scanner? The answer has not changed in recent years: Linux itself does not need an antivirus scanner.
Antivirus scanners for Linux typically target server installations, looking for infected files and attachments on mail and file servers. As services, they thus run in the background. Sophos Anti-Virus (SAV) for Linux is in this group of scanners; the application comprises a service with a toolset for the command line. Don't expect visual feedback unless the Sophos scanner discovers something on your disk or you are attempting to store an infected, or purportedly infected, file.
Sophos Anti-Virus
SAV is available for free from the Sophos website [1] in exchange for your email address. The installation package, sav-linux-free-9.9.tgz, weighs in at 423MB – antivirus programs are not exactly lightweight. To set up the application, unpack the archive and run the text-based installation routine as root:
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
KDE Linux Alpha Available for Daring Users
It's official, KDE Linux has arrived, but it's not quite ready for prime time.
-
AMD Initiates Graphics Driver Updates for Linux Kernel 6.18
This new AMD update focuses on power management, display handling, and hardware support for Radeon GPUs.
-
AerynOS Alpha Release Available
With a choice of several desktop environments, AerynOS 2025.08 is almost ready to be your next operating system.
-
AUR Repository Still Under DDoS Attack
Arch User Repository continues to be under a DDoS attack that has been going on for more than two weeks.
-
RingReaper Malware Poses Danger to Linux Systems
A new kind of malware exploits modern Linux kernels for I/O operations.
-
Happy Birthday, Linux
On August 25, Linux officially turns 34.
-
VirtualBox 7.2 Has Arrived
With early support for Linux kernel 6.17 and other new additions, VirtualBox 7.2 is a must-update for users.
-
Linux Mint 22.2 Beta Available for Testing
Some interesting new additions and improvements are coming to Linux Mint. Check out the Linux Mint 22.2 Beta to give it a test run.
-
Debian 13.0 Officially Released
After two years of development, the latest iteration of Debian is now available with plenty of under-the-hood improvements.
-
Upcoming Changes for MXLinux
MXLinux 25 has plenty in store to please all types of users.