After years of using Linux on my main computer, I got really tired of seeing how many low-quality Linux antivirus programs were floating around the internet. While Linux is much more secure than other operating systems, I kept finding vulnerabilities that I was struggling to patch.
One of the reasons for this is that there simply aren’t very many antivirus scanners for Linux. While malware is still an issue, Linux users don’t face the same risks as PC and Mac users, so we need to utilize other cybersecurity tools to harden our devices.
I spent a long time finding the best free Linux cybersecurity tools on the internet. After testing 29 different programs, I’ve come up with some rock-solid programs to help bulk up security on my Linux machine.
- ClamAV: Open-source freeware antivirus scanner with a GUI.
- Sophos: Free for one user, scan and remove malware, command line only.
- Firetools: Sandboxing software prevents malicious web scripts with a GUI.
- Rootkit Hunter: Behavior-based rootkit scanning, command line only.
- Qubes: A distro designed to keep your computer as secure as possible.