HOWTO: Install AVG free anti-virus

[Artificial Intelligence]

AVG Linux Free Edition - Do not exist anymore


Tested in Feisty x86
For Ubuntu 64-bit: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=3840641



This guide have been totally rewritten due to the support of an avg.deb package.


If you're looking for Anti-virus to protect Windows OS, network, servers etc. via your Linux system, you might use this instead: HOWTO: Install F-Prot anti-virus

This one is for paranoid single home users


NOTE: It can only scan, no more no less!


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Q: Is viruses, trojans and malware a threat to a linux system as in Windows?

A: No, there's a very few viruses to linux and the way a Linux/unix is build up makes it difficult to do any serious damage to the system, in fact I've never heard from people who got their Linux/unix system infected.

Q: So why install a anti-virus application/program?

A: For an ordinary Linux Home user with only one OS system their's no need for Anti-virus, but people who's running network, server or dual booting with win OS this tool can be very handy to scan and delete viruses.

Q: I'm a home user only running Linux do I need it?

A: No, a firewall is way better as protection in that case.



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Before Installation

Make sure that your sourcelist is set up correctly. If you are in doubt make a search on the forum.



Installation

Download The Free AVG Advisor from here (.deb) to your Desktop.

cd ~/Desktop
sudo dpkg -i avg75fld-r45-a0973.i386.deb

Launcher

Making a launcher to start AVG

sudo rm -r /usr/share/applications/avggui.desktop
sudo nano /usr/share/applications/avg.desktop

add:

[Desktop Entry]
Name=AVG Antivirus
Comment=Antivirus
Exec=gksudo avggui &
Icon=/opt/grisoft/avggui/prog/pixmaps/avgico_big.png
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Application;System;

save and exit.

You can now start AVG by going to Applications tab ---> System Tools.



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If people want to discuss security about virus' and firewall if it needed or not, also a good place to see peoples opinion on this matter: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=131616

[knalle]

great stuff! thanks a lot!

[Klaidas]

Rebooting to ubuntu, gotta try this!

[bierpullen]

Worked like a charm. Thanks




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Acer laptop 1522, 528mb, AMD 64 3000, 64mb Nvidia.
http://www.antarctica-rbak.nl/ubuntu

[Matchless]

Originally Posted by Artificial Intelligence This one is for paranoid single home users Q: Is viruses, trojans and malware a threat to a linux system as in Windows? A: No, there's a very few viruses to linux and the way a Linux/unix is build up makes it difficult to do any serious damage to the system, in fact I've never heard from people who got their Linux/unix system infected. Q: So why install a anti-virus application/program? A: For an ordinary Linux Home user with only one OS system their's no need for Anti-virus, but people who's running network, server or dual booting with win OS this tool can be very handy to scan and delete viruses. Q: I'm a home user only running Linux do I need it? A: No, a firewall is way better as protection in that case. F

Hi,
Just my 2 cents worth. I see many linux users refering to "not really needing virus protection", but that is not really true. Linux may be fairly virus resistant, but we are continually exchanging files on the internet, on a LAN with other PC's and via email and other systems with users who are mostly using Windows. We will be passing on infected files to our friends and families who are using Windows if we do not scan our files for virus infections. ClamAV has been around for quite a while, but is one of the slowest programs to use that I have seen. Thanks to Artificial Intelligence we now have AVG and Fprot to use as well. My suggestion is that every Linux user should have a proper updated anti-virus program installed at all times and that Dapper should also come with one as a standard. We are in the real world here and must make sure that no-one is under any misconception here!

[Artificial Intelligence]

I know, that's why I wrote the howtos, but in the other hand I don't think we should paint the devil on the wall before it's actual is needed.

For discussion about security, virus, firewall etc. there's a good thread here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=131616

[gammagoat]

GEEZ I dont know what I've done wrong , but at step 6 I get this

License type is FREE.
bigvern@ubuntu1:~/Desktop$ avggui &
[1] 9386
bigvern@ubuntu1:~/Desktop$ No module named pygtk
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "main.py", line 24, in ?
sys.exit(1)
NameError: name 'sys' is not defined

Think you all could tell me what I am doing wrong?

[Artificial Intelligence]

sudo apt-get install python2.4-gtk2

See if this helps.

[gammagoat]

ok did that and now.

No module named glade
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "main.py", line 24, in ?
sys.exit(1)
NameError: name 'sys' is not defined

[yasenov]

this question may be stupid but..
is it better than clamav?