Well, this is interesting. Kaspersky have released KVRT (Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool), which is free to use to scan your systems for issues.
This is not an active virus scanner, it doesn't constantly run on your system. Only when you load it and tell it to scan. It also doesn't auto-update, you need to go and download it fresh from their website each time. Still, it's interesting to see such a big name jump into something like this for Linux don't you think? They say it can "detect both malware and adware, as well as legitimate programs that can be used for attacks".
It may look like a Windows application but that really is on Linux.
As they said in their blog post announcement:
Modern-day cybercriminals aren’t ignoring Linux-based operating systems. Recently, we published a series of posts about malicious code in the open source set of utilities XZ Utils, which managed to find its way into several popular Linux builds; wrote about a Linux implant for the DinodasRAT malware — also known as XDealer; and warned about a backdoor in the Trojanized version of Free Download Manager. Despite all this, the myth that Linux is mostly immune to cyberthreats persists: companies rarely devote funds to protecting machines running this operating system. Therefore, we’ve released a dedicated free product that allows you to check Linux computers for modern threats — Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool (KVRT) for Linux.
What are your thoughts on this, and what do you use on your Linux desktop to keep it secure? Maybe it's time to give over some suggestions in the comments on that.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Kaspersky (the man) himself is a KGB-school graduate and for YEARS held the most idiotic positions publicly. Such as destroying any vestages of anonymity on the internet, for example. He argued that everyone should be represented by their formal government-issued identification on the web. So, nicknames and silly avatars should be banned, essentially. In Soviet Russia, the internet connects to YOU!
He loved to applaud any soviet-style initiatives of the current government and jumped through multiple hoops to signal how he loves the Party and the president.
Then they had some switcheroo with his ex-wife in the CEO seat, tried some damage control, smoke and mirrors tactics, but I won't believe anything. This company is rotten and was that way from the start.
However, as visible even in their press release, the biggest threats come from closed-source software. The xz vulnerability was identified in part thanks to its open source nature (part of the backdoor was never present in source code repositories, only in release tarballs). I would personally only trust FOSS antiviruses.
Be careful before handing the keys to your kingdom (root access) to any kind of software.
And I don't need to mention kaspersky's shady track record here, others have done so already.
Quoting: StalePopcornMaybe comments should be disabled since a pattern is already present, but Kaspersky are not doing operating from a country directly or indirectly involved in mass genocide, if we're going to be throwing rocks, remember that we're in a glass house.
I don't want to start a flame war or highly (geo)political arguments here, but you should 1. look up the definition of genocide 2. Have a look at https://icj-cij.org/case/182 (hint: forced assimilation, killings, indoctrination and deportation of children fit the bill, collateral victims are a tragedy but not genocide). I'm quite sensitive about this topic.
Last edited by MayeulC on 3 June 2024 at 1:52 pm UTC
Considering how wide open user space can be, I've always been kinda surprised how lacking Linux security has always been with protecting the user. I always chalked it up to the mentality of "The user is on their own" and "We're too smart to download junk or visit a bad website".
Nateman1000 Jun 3
I will never need an anti virus tool on Linux to run constant scans, either.
Just be aware of what you install and where you install it from. Served me well so far and I don't think that'll ever change.
The biggest threat to cybersecurity is not the OS or the hardware or the software. It sits in front of the computer.
That said, considering the recent reveals of how vulnerable FOSS is to malicious intent combined with long-term preparation, it might make sense - especially for companies - to have some kind of virus detection running on Linux machines at least somewhat regularly.
That nobody should trust Kaspersky these days is quite obvious, but that's not really the primary issue.
Last edited by TheSHEEEP on 3 June 2024 at 1:53 pm UTC
But back in the days I used virus scan software kaspersky was the virus software to use in my opinion. Then it got a bit too expensive after they bumped up the price. But I will for sure try this out just for the fun. I hope they go cheaper and this is a way to test the water in Linux.
Quoting: denyasisI used ClamAV, but it can be finicky with time outs on large files, etc.
Considering how wide open user space can be, I've always been kinda surprised how lacking Linux security has always been with protecting the user. I always chalked it up to the mentality of "The user is on their own" and "We're too smart to download junk or visit a bad website".
Linux is developed by and for enterprise users and you see that really strong in the security space.
Everything exists, but it requires a degree in computer science to be useful.
SE-Linux(permission system used by phones(IOs and android)), ClamAV, special security fork of the kernel, security flags when compiling your own kernel, IPtables, etc.
Some security features actually do leak to us idiots though.
Strict division of user and root.
Password by default.
Executable flagging.
Clear file identification(both the UI and the system use the same bits for file type indication).
Last edited by LoudTechie on 3 June 2024 at 2:12 pm UTC
Why are you trying to argue with someone, who suggests disabling comments when there's "a pattern" in a discussion about some particular company. There's no good faith here from the start.
I don't like to close comments, or force comments into a moderation queue, but we will do what we must to keep the peace.
Last edited by Liam Dawe on 3 June 2024 at 2:33 pm UTC
Patreon
PayPal
See more from me