Avast’s security systems were primarily developed to run on Windows operating systems, but soon expanded to Mac, Android, Chromebook, and iPhone devices. Today, you can even grab an Avast Linux version that runs on your servers to assess your traffic. In this guide, we’ll evaluate whether you really need an antivirus program for this platform and what features are available.
Written by Ria du Plessis - Web Developer Updated on September 22 , 2021 |
Many consider Linux servers to be safe from viruses and malware. Unfortunately, these threats exist in every form, and there’s no such thing as an impenetrable device. While the free Avast Linux Home Edition no longer exists, you can still obtain the Avast Business Antivirus for Linux solution.
It’s essential to realize that most Linux owners run antivirus software on their servers to protect endpoint devices. If you have a Ubuntu, Debian, and Red Hat operating system, it’ll also benefit from the Avast Antivirus Linux solution. Here are some of the available features.
Avast Linux works on a shell script that checks files and traffic on your servers. It loads the latest virus definitions into the database and then assesses whether any breach attempts have been. The script also updates and runs as a cron job every hour.
You can also run two-factor authentication with Avast Antivirus Linux as an additional security measure. The Secure Shell enforces this extra step over your team’s passwords, making it harder for anyone to hack into the system. However, it only works if you implement password rotation as a standard policy.
While viruses hardly target Linux machines, they do aim for operating systems that go online. You may have Ubuntu or Windows computers running on your Linux system, which are accessible to malware and ransomware. Avast ensures that each endpoint device receives the same protection as the server to maintain the system integrity.
What was once the Avast Core Security Linux product is now integrated into the server edition. It performs core scanning when you insert a specific command line. It works with AMaViS to synchronize with emails and you can connect to the UNIX socket to see the results. The assessment will appear on your screen after evaluating all endpoints on the server.
Since Avast Antivirus Linux runs on your server, you won’t have any lagging performance on any endpoint devices. The software scans the entire network, making sure that there are no infections that could compromise your business. Let’s look at the types of protection you can expect.
While there’s a common perception that there’s less chance of malware infecting Linux devices than Windows, the possibility still exists. Avast protects your Ubuntu, Debian, and Red Hat operating systems running on Linux servers from malicious content hidden in fake websites and harmful cookies. Even if you have dual-booting systems, the antivirus will check for malware on both of them.
One significant benefit of Avast is that the developers are constantly updating the software. If new unrecognized ransomware threats appear while you’re reading your emails or checking site pages, it’s library of harmful content will remain updated to ward against them. You’ll also receive alerts if ransomware is detected on any of the endpoint devices to keep the entire network healthy.
Even if you’re running Avast Linux Mint (Ubuntu), you're fortunate enough to have protection against phishing. You can safely check your emails without worrying about anyone stealing your valuable information. Your company’s banking and private details will remain safe from prying eyes.
If you have sensitive information running on your Linux server, you don’t want hackers accessing it through spyware located on an endpoint device. You might have company data stored on it that’ll be valuable to your competition. Avast Business Antivirus for Linux prevents anyone from spying on your activity or files with core scripts programmed to work against such malware.
Your devices may have firewalls installed, but they can’t stop the most persistent of threats. The Avast Antivirus Linux solution adds extra firewall settings to prevent malware from entering your server. You can set various rules for how it behaves and when to scan.
Privacy is essential to any company, which is why you need to protect it on your server. While Avast predominantly focuses on threat detection and removal, there are also tools in place to protect your private data. Here’s a look at some of them for Linux servers.
If you’re using an Ubuntu operating system with a web browser running on a Linux system, you’re open to hacking and malware ready to steal your information. There are some unethical sites that appear to be real but only serve to access your content for their own gain. Avast blocks any online attempts at data and identity theft, closing the page and warning you of the risk.
Much like a VPN, a VPS is an encrypted server that has the latest virus definition database installed on it. You’ll have a permanent connection to Avast’s own network where you can stream content and safely download files. You can also distribute packages through its secure cloud system.
Browsing the internet can be frustrating if you have adverts continuously appearing. What you may not know is that clicking on it, or simply closing it, can cause an infection in your system. Avast prevents banners, pop-ups, and other marketing campaigns from showing up if they seem suspicious.
| Plan | Price | Number of Devices | Top Features |
Avast Business Antivirus for Linux | $259.99 per device yearly | Up to 100 | Protection from malware, ransomware, adware, spyware, viruses; VPN; file server shield; firewall protection |
When you run the script for Avast Business Antivirus for Linux on your server, you may not see any visual effects of the protection in place. It’s mainly on the endpoint devices where you can manage the settings on the operating system that you’re running. This portal looks similar to the ones for Mac and Windows.
You’ll be able to run scans throughout your Linux server or on each device on your network. Avast also performs random checks for malware or ensuring that nothing has breached the file, web, and mail shields. You can also schedule regular monitoring daily or weekly, depending on your business requirement.
Assessing the Linux results needs to be done by a trained professional who understands script codes. There may be times that Avast won’t know what to do with infected files due to limited permissions or outdated software. Your IT team must be vigilant in entering the correct command lines; otherwise, there’s a good chance that something might breach your firewall.
Avast Linux has a command-line editor that aids you in updating your scripts or issuing tasks as cron jobs. It also includes software repositories for different operating systems, such as RPM for Red Hat and DEB for Debian. When running your server on a VPS, the antivirus software will obtain and update the virus database as new details are released.
When the Avast Linux Home Edition was still available, you needed to download different packages for Debian, Red Hat, and Ubuntu separately. The latest Avast Business Antivirus for Linux requires a different approach and only works on servers. You can then install the software on each endpoint device by running scripts.
To uninstall Avast from your Linux servers and devices, you’ll need to simply follow the script requirements as indicated in the technical documentation for your operating system. Ubuntu, Red Hat, and Debian have different commands, so your technical team will need to get them spot on. The manual also holds all the coding for running various scans and activating specific functions.
If your business runs a Linux server, you may not feel the need to have an antivirus product. While the Home and Mint editions are no longer being used as much, since most hackers target Windows and Mac, the Avast Business Antivirus for Linux edition has become an essential tool for protecting Ubuntu, Debian, and Red Hat operating systems. You can now manage security settings via your server from a central location.
What makes it more appealing is that it has a virtual private server for encrypting your corporate data and files. You can run scripts from the Avast command-line instead of in Linux itself, ensuring that you don’t get any coding wrong. At the same time, the software is making sure that no infections breach the system.
