Online Linux Virus Scanner

[VMC]

I tried using google to find a Linux online virus scanner. Not a downloaded virus scanner.

I do not want to have any antivirus scanner on my ubuntu, period.

From time to time I would like to check my file system. I know of such things for Windows, but they are usually limited to a few files.

They want you to download the entire program and have it always running. This is one of the reasons I left Windows.

NOTHING slows down a computer more than a antivirus scanner.

I have a dos bootable cd that has a scanner, but I don't think they cover Linux file systems.

Should I even be concerned? I did read the sticky above, but this topic has come up several times, mainly by Windows users.

[The Cog]

I don't think you will find one. Linux's security model makes it more difficult to run invasive software like that in a browser. Online virus scanners is distinctly windows-think, and the mere possibility of it happenng in windows is part of the reason for windows virus problems.

[Thirtysixway]

You don't even need normal anti virus on Ubuntu. That's a windows thing ;]

[pawnrocket]

Just a side note. I was curious so one day I logged onto an online virus scanner. It scanned my system and found tons of Windows Viruses. Thats odd I thought considering I haven't ran windows in almost 8 years. So I searched for the .exe's on my system. Of course there weren't any. After the scan they offered to sell me spyware and virus software. So I took a screen shot of my Linux Desktop and their website scan. Some people will do anything for a couple bucks. It was only a flash animation.

:lolflag:

[aysiu]

Antivirus is a waste of time and resources. Antivirus on Linux even more so.

[dakal]

Generally the only purpose of Linux virus scanners is to protect Windows systems served by the Linux system (for example in the capacity of file server). Given this, online virus scanners for Linux (even if it was possible, which it is not without non-sandboxed arbitrary code being allowed to execute in a document renderer A.K.A. web browser) hardly make any sense. That is the same reason why even on Windows such services often have to be run through Internet Explorer.

As others have also said, the *nix security model (with a clear separation between user and kernel processes, user and administrator access, and generally applications and data) give viruses a much harder time to take off than on Windows.

[VMC]

I guess I was more curious about if I happened upon a dubious web site that deposited a Windows virus from my browser into my file system how would I be able to detect that?

I don't go to warez or porn sites or click on any pop-ups or unknown email .

I know the Windows viruses would lay dormant ,but in case one got deposited how would I know. I wouldn't even know where to look. I do read my log files though.

Thanks for the replies, they were reassuring.

[mikewhatever]

Letting an online scanner check your system means a site you allow to, or one that can trick you to allow, gets access to your file system. That sounds like a huge security hole. The ability to perform such scans on Windows OS is outrageous. It gives users false sense of security when in fact the system is wide open. To better understand Ubuntu's security model, have a look --> http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=765421.