Top 5 Free Antivirus for Ubuntu
Linux is known for being more secure than Windows, but there's no operating system that is totally shielded against threats; every operating system has its own vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Wait! Are we here to talk about Linux? Well, Ubuntu is a software platform of Linux's family, and we will introduce you to why it was developed and for what purpose. Also, we will be discussing the best free antivirus for Ubuntu users.
Keep the excitement; we're about to get right to it!
If you can't wait to read about the best free antivirus for Ubuntu, click here to skip this part.
More to Know about Ubuntu
Ubuntu was released in 2014, and since then, people around the globe use it as their best free operating system and the best among Linux software for desktops, servers, and OpenStack clouds.
The project was developed to be free for all people. If you looked at the name's origin, you'll find that it means "common humanity", which is a concept that Linux wanted to apply in the form of common infrastructure and software that scale to almost all platforms and can be used by anyone with no complications or fees. It is pretty simple to use and highly secure at the same time.
Not only is the software free of charge, but its updates and maintenance are also available for free too. It is also pre-installed on Dell, Asus, Lenovo, and HP computers. The great news is that you don't have to worry about your security while using Ubuntu; it is highly secured, and you can rely on its ability to protect you from even the most sophisticated threats. Still, you need antivirus software to ensure that your device is safe; that's why we will bring you the best free antivirus for Ubuntu.
In this section, we will bring you the best free antivirus for your free OS by Linux. Let's head off to our first suggestion.
1. Sophos antivirus
Sophos is a cybersecurity company based in Oxford, UK. It has very promising results when tested by third-party labs like AV-tests, AV-Comparatives, and SE Labs. In terms of the malicious ware detection test, Sophos scores 6/6 and 5,5/6 in the impact on device test. AV-Comparatives tests also show that Sophos can successfully block 96.2% of threats.
We can rely on these tests considering their unbiased results and transparent testing methods.
The good news is that Sophos offers a free Linux scanning program that Ubuntu users can also use to protect their system from Linux threats and malware from other operating systems if you're using any.
Here are some of Sophos features:
- Real-time protection
- Low impact on the device's performance
- Easy to install and fast to run
- Intuitive and reliable scanner
- Automated detection and blocking of malicious files and threats
A summary table for Sophos home product prices:
| Plans | Sophos Home Product Premium |
|---|---|
| One year | $44.99/10 devices |
| Two years | $74.99/10 devices |
| Three years | $104.99/10 devices |
Get a free antivirus for Ubuntu!
2. Comodo Antivirus
Comodo is an open-source cybersecurity company based in New Jersey, the US. It has the first open-source endpoint detection and response (EDR) system. Let's take a look at how secure it is when tested by a third-party Lab.
In AV-test, Comodo gets a 6/6 score on its ability to detect malicious ware and 5.5/6 in the impact on the device performance test.
In SE Labs, Comodo antivirus had 730/750 with 97% legitimate accuracy, meaning it could differentiate accurately the products that classify legitimate applications and URLs. In terms of protection, Comodo antivirus detected 100 out of 100 and blocked 99.
Very impressive scores, to be honest, but what about its features and Ubuntu protection?
Comodo offers proactive protection for all platforms, and Ubuntu, fortunately, is one of them. The free antivirus by Comodo is packed with many inviting features to choose it among all other services on the market, including:
- Protection against all sorts of malware, including viruses, trojans, worms, spyware, backdoors, rootkits, adware, and other malware infections.
- Email filter that blocks spam mails.
- Real-time protection and behavior analysis.
- An on-access scanner that checks files' safety.
For a three-device plan for one year, Comodo Complete Internet Security costs $39.99.
| Plan | Comodo Complete Internet Security |
|---|---|
| Single device | $29.99/year |
| Three devices | $39.99/year |
3. ClamAV
Clam AV is free cross-platform antivirus software, designed using C and C++ languages for email scanning along with other security features.
The features include:
- Real-time threat detection for Linux
- On-access scanning
- Email scanning
- Free updates and maintenance
- Archived and compressed files scanning
- Easy to run and install
ClamAV supports the following operating systems:
- Linux (Alpine, Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, Fedora)
- Windows (7 and 10)
- UNIX (macOS, FreeBSD)
4. F-Prot antivirus
Linux, as we said earlier, is not vulnerable to threats, but it can be especially when exchanging files with other operating systems like Windows, which is less secure than Linux. F-Prot is a free antivirus and malware detector for Linux.
If you are looking for a fully-featured antivirus with many security tools and is easy to install, F-Prot could not your best choice, since its protection is limited for browsers, and comparing to other antivirus software, it is not the easiest to install.
F-Prot is a command-line application, that's why you'll need to do few steps to get the free version.
5. ESET NOD32
ESET NOD32 is a Slovak antivirus that is available in two editions: Home and Business. It might not be your free choice, but there is a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 30-day free trial to test and judge yourself.
ESET NOD32 is a lightweight software that will not affect your device performance and you can totally rely on its security features to protect your Ubuntu operating system.
For $29 per year/ single device, you'll have the following features:
- No pop-ups or ads, which allows great gaming and streaming experience.
- Protects you against all types of malware, including viruses, ransomware, worms, and spyware.
- Lightweight on your device and doesn't use your device's resources.
- Easy to install, renew and upgrade.
- ESET NOD32 Antivirus license can be transferred to macOS or Linux operating systems.
- Safe for shopping and online banking.
Conclusion
Every operating system has its own weaknesses, you can depend on Ubuntu as one of Linux's secure and free software, but your device is still vulnerable to multiple threats through exchanging files with other operating systems, especially Windows, which is less secure than Linux.
Choose from our best free antivirus for Ubuntu to keep your device secure and virus-free.