Kaspersky Launches a Malware Scanner for Linux

 Kaspersky Launches a Malware Scanner for Linux

Viruses on Linux? There's a bit of everything in the world, but don't call them viruses—call them malware, which is the more modern term. The question is: Should you be worried about these things on Linux? The truth is, opinions vary widely, although not all opinions carry the same weight. Regardless, here's a new tool you might want to know about.

The veteran security firm announced the launch of a malware application for Linux systems, aimed at both desktop and server environments: Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool (KVRT), a basic utility that, they warn, "cannot monitor attacks on your computer or server in real-time," but rather "allows you to scan Linux systems for known cyber threats."

KVRT is a search-and-clean tool, not a protection tool, so it doesn't replace good privacy practices, which are also essential on Linux. However, it won't consume your system's resources just by being there, waiting for a threat to appear. In this sense, it works similarly to ClamAV, the free antivirus: on-demand.

KVRT offers both a graphical and console interface, allowing you to scan various parameters like memory, startup processes, and others, in addition to directories and files, including compressed files. It has a quarantine section, another for scan reports... and not much else. It doesn't even have an update system, so you'll need to update the application itself to keep it current.

If you want to try it out, you can download KVRT from this link. The executable is a generic one that will work on most distributions, although you can find more information on hardware and software requirements on this information page. To run the application, you need to grant permissions and follow other instructions (it's very simple).

Of course, Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool is a closed-source tool, but it comes from a well-known company in the industry and is completely free, despite its notable shortcomings (like not updating its database and forcing you to download the application... Hopefully, they'll fix that). In any case, it's an alternative that might interest you.