The Best Linux Antivirus Software in 2024

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While Linux is often regarded as a secure operating system, it is not completely immune to malware threats and a good Linux antivirus is highly suggested. Vulnerabilities exist within various Linux applications and extensions, providing multiple pathways for potential infections. Notably, high-profile incidents, such as the attack on Linux-based IoT devices in the Mirai botnet outbreak, demonstrate how deeply malicious actors can penetrate systems, even reaching firmware levels.

To lessen these risks, the best Linux antivirus software offers comprehensive malware protection, ensuring your device’s security. However, not all antiviruses are suitable for Linux OS. Therefore, I have rigorously tested and compared the best antiviruses for Linux regarding their malware detection rates, impact on performance, additional security features, and overall value for money.

The Best Antiviruses for Linux Tested by Our Experts

NordVPN Threat Protection – The Best Linux Antivirus Overall

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Bitdefender – Best Linux Antivirus With Real-Time Monitoring

30-Day Trial
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Trend Micro – Excellent Antivirus for Linux Servers

30-Day Free Trial
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ESET – Best Linux Antivirus for Business

30-Day Free Trial
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Avast – Best Small Business Linux Antivirus

Free-Forever Plan
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The Top 5 Linux Antivirus Programs Ranked

  1. NordVPN Threat Protection – The best Linux antivirus overall
  2. Bitdefender – Best Linux antivirus with real-time monitoring
  3. Trend Micro – Excellent antivirus for Linux servers
  4. ESET – Best Linux antivirus for business
  5. Avast – Best small business Linux antivirus

The Best Linux Antivirus Programs Reviewed

Here are my in-depth reviews of the best Linux antivirus solutions, based on thorough, hands-on testing following our rigorous assessment methodology, so you can see how they compare and choose the best antivirus software solution for your needs.

1. NordVPN Threat Protection – The Best Linux Antivirus Overall

A logo of NordVPN

Starting Price $3.99/month
Key Features High-Speed VPN, Ad Blocker, Phishing Protection
Linux Support Home
Money-Back Guarantee 30-day guarantee
Why We Picked It

NordVPN’s Threat Protection Lite feature protects you from malicious sites and blocks ads. You’ll also get access to one of the best global VPNs available, with 6,400+ servers spread over more than 110 countries.

Features
  • Web ProtectionLinux might be a relatively secure operating system, but you’re still susceptible to phishing attacks and online scams. To protect you, Nord notifies you if a site has been flagged as malicious, so you can make sure to avoid it. For Windows and Mac computers, the Threat Protection package also automatically scans files as you’re downloading them and eliminates threats. With Linux, you’ll need to be connected to NordVPN to use the security tools.
  • VPN – Of course, having access to NordVPN’s industry-leading virtual private network (VPN) service is a substantial bonus. It allows you to use the internet securely and anonymously and offers fast connections with a huge, global server network.
  • Additional Security Features – Beyond this, the Nord security package offers a range of additional features, including a password manager, a data breach monitor, encrypted storage, and significant amounts of identity theft coverage. For more information, see our guide to the best Linux password managers.
Pricing

NordVPN’s Plus and Ultimate plans start at $3.99/month with a two-year plan and include a password manager and data breach monitoring, allowing you to store strong, unique passwords and respond quickly if your details are leaked online.

Upgrading to the top-tier Ultimate plan gets you 1TB of encrypted cloud storage, $1m identity theft cover, and $100,000 cyber extortion protection. I believe that these features more than makeup for any limitations of Threat Protection Lite’s core security features.

24 months + 3 free 12 months + 3 free 1 month
NordVPN Plus $3.99/month $5.99/month $13.99/month
NordVPN Ultimate $5.99/month $7.99/month $15.99/month
Who It's Best For

NordVPN Threat Protection is a great security package, offering browser protection, dark web monitoring, and encrypted storage as well as a first-class VPN. It’s one of the best home security options for Linux desktop users.

Pros

  • Real-time protection from malicious sites
  • Lightweight ad blocker
  • Excellent VPN
  • Extra security features available

Cons

  • Lacks file scanning capability
  • Lite version can’t scan malicious links or block trackers
NordVPN Threat Protection
9.0
Review

 

2. Bitdefender – Best Linux Antivirus With Real-Time Monitoring

Bitdefender Logo

Starting Price $1.26/month
Key Features Ransomware + Phishing Protection, Flexible Plans, Stops Fileless Attacks
Linux Support Business, Enterprise, Servers
Money-Back Guarantee 30-day guarantee, free trial
Why We Picked It

Bitdefender is an award-winning antivirus product that offers business solutions that support a wide range of major Linux distros, including Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Fedora, Oracle Linux, and Amazon Linux.

Features
  • Business Security Plans – GravityZone Small Business Security starts at $20.99/year for a single device – or $45.49 for three years – and scales to 100 devices. It offers complete antivirus protection against malware, adware, ransomware, and other web attacks. There’s a single console for ease of use, and add-ons can be acquired as needed.
  • Real-Time Malware Detection – The software works to stop exploits in real-time and mitigate against fileless attacks attempting to write directly to memory. To assist this, Bitdefender blocks malicious traffic and analyzes the memory buffer prior to code injection, stopping the process if threats are detected.
  • Ransomware and Phishing Protection – There are also anti-ransomware features included to create backups of files in real time, preventing hackers from encrypting and destroying them. The product automatically blocks known phishing web pages, meanwhile, to keep users safe from fraud attempts and hacking exploits.
Pricing

Bitdefender’s plans scale up to GravityZone Business Security Enterprise. There are also Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and Security for Containers products – all of which support Linux.

1 year, 1 device 2 years, 1 device 3 years, 1 device 1 year, 3 devices 2 years, 3 devices 3 years, 3 devices 1 year, 5 devices 2 years, 5 devices 3 years, 5 devices 1 year, 10 devices 2 years, 10 devices 3 years, 10 devices
GravityZone Small Business Security $20.99/year $17.50/year $15.16/year $63.69/year $52.85/year $45.73/year $104.99/year $87.50/year $75.83/year $199.49/year $169.75/year $147/year
GravityZone Business Security n/a n/a n/a $77.69/year $66.15/year $62.30/year $129.49/year $110.25/year $103.60/year $258.99/year $220.15/year $207.66/year
GravityZone Business Security Premium n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a $286.99/year $241.50/year $227.03/year $570.49/year $483/year $453.83/year
Who It's Best For

Bitdefender is a supremely flexible business antivirus for Linux. It’s actually even more flexible than ESET, though it is a little more expensive. Having anti-ransomware and anti-phishing features is an added bonus, and it’s an antivirus provider that’ll consistently show up on any top 10 antivirus for Linux list.

Pros

  • Top marks in independent test results
  • Real-time protection against malware, viruses, and ransomware
  • Script and extension-based integration with applications and services
  • Open-source plugins for popular file managers
  • GUI makes it easy to use in desktop environments

Cons

  • VPN is an expensive add-on
  • Some negative customer feedback
Bitdefender
9.4
Review

 

3. Trend Micro – Excellent Antivirus Solution for Linux Servers

Starting Price Custom quote
Key Features Intuitive Web Console, Automatic Updates, Enhanced Spyware Removal
Linux Support Servers, Enterprise
Money-Back Guarantee 30-day guarantee, 30-day trial
Why We Picked It

Trend Micro ServerProtect for Linux provides first-class virus protection for Linux web servers and file servers, protecting them and stopping them from distributing malware to endpoints.

Features
  • Network Protection – Trend Micro ServerProtect allows for the central management of scanning, threat assessments, and policy deployment. It also comes with automatic updates, so there are minimal maintenance requirements.
  • Web Console – The service is managed via an intuitive web console and can scan, identify, and remove malware, viruses, and spyware with real-time, on-demand, and scheduled scanning options.
  • Scanning and Reports – Admins can be kept up-to-date on events by email or SNMP traps, and scans can be configured to minimize system performance impact, with kernel-level scanning limiting performance degradation.
Pricing

Trend Micro ServerProtect for Linux comes with a free trial so you can roadtest the software on your systems, though its pricing isn’t public.

The Trend Vision One enterprise security solution can also be deployed to Linux endpoints. Trend Micro doesn’t provide Linux support for either its consumer or small business options, though, unlike other providers like ESET and Nord.

Who It's Best For

Trend Micro ServerProtect is ideal for protecting Linux servers, so you can ensure your network is secure. The software is certified by major Linux vendors and has been independently tested – and it’s proven to be stable and reliable.

Pros

  • Enhanced spyware removal capabilities
  • Intuitive web console
  • Multiple scanning options
  • Settings to minimize system scanning impact
  • Automatic updates minimize maintenance overheads

Cons

  • Pricing not disclosed
  • No consumer or small business Linux support
Trend Micro
9.1
Review

 

4. ESET – Best Linux Antivirus for Business

ESET Antivirus Logo

Starting Price $17.58/month
Key Features Range of Business Solutions, Easy to Use, MDR Service
Linux Support Business, Enterprise, Servers
Money-Back Guarantee 30-day guarantee, 30-day trial
Why We Picked It

ESET provides a comprehensive range of Linux antivirus solutions for business users, ranging from small businesses to enterprise-level firms, and it offers both endpoint and server protection to combat malware, ransomware, and other threats.

Features
  • Machine Learning-Powered Protection – ESET’s starter business plan, ESET Protect Entry, offers multilayered, machine learning-powered protection using the company’s LiveSense technology. It supports desktops, mobile devices, and file servers, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, plus Ubuntu Desktop and RedHat Enterprise Linux. You can protect from five to 100 devices with the Entry package.
  • Usability – Installation is available via cloud or on-premises deployment, giving you transparency and flexibility. The platform is easy to use and includes a unified console. You can get started quickly, and there are minimal maintenance requirements.
  • Advanced Security Features – Upgrading to ESET Protect Elite gets you full disk encryption, cloud app protection, mail security, vulnerability and patch management, and advanced threat defenses, powered by machine learning and sandbox analysis.
  • Proactive Threat Detection and Enterprise Tools – There’s also proactive threat detection from ESET Inspect, a cloud-based tool that enables rapid incident response. Beyond this, there are the ESET Protect Enterprise and ESET Protect MDR packages, with the latter offering a Managed Detection and Response service, premium support, and deployment assistance.
Pricing

ESET offers a range of business plans that support Linux. As standard, the plans cover from five to 100 devices, and prices fall per device as you add more devices and subscribe for longer periods, up to a cap of three years.

5 devices
ESET Protect Entry $211/year
ESET Protect Advanced $275/year
ESET Protect Complete $287.72/year
ESET Protect Enterprise Custom
ESET Protect Elite Custom
ESET Protect MDR Custom
ESET Protect MDR Ultimate Custom
Who It's Best For

ESET is a great option for businesses securing Linux systems. It provides more security features than Nord Threat Protection Lite but is a better fit for smaller firms than Trend Micro’s packages, which are geared toward enterprise businesses. Its biggest shortcoming is that it no longer supports home Linux plans.

Pros

  • Range of business Linux security solutions
  • Easy-to-use console
  • Great MDR service
  • Smart incident response tools

Cons

  • Home Linux support discontinued
  • Slight learning curve
Eset
8.7
Review

 

5. Avast – Best Small Business Linux Antivirus

Starting Price $13.33/month
Key Features Real-Time Updates, Malware Detection for Dual-Booted Systems, File Server Shield
Linux Support Business, Servers
Money-Back Guarantee 30-day guarantee (30-day trial for Avast Ultimate Business Security)
Why We Picked It

Avast offers a secure, reliable antivirus solution for smaller businesses using Linux. The security suite supports several Linux distros, including Ubuntu, Red Hat, and Debian, and both 32- and 64-bit systems, and can provide both endpoint and server protection.

Features
  • Real-Time Protection – The Avast Business Antivirus for Linux product is updated continuously and in real-time, ensuring you’re protected against novel cyber threats. It can also identify and remove malware on dual-booted systems that use other operating systems.
  • Scan Reports – You get comprehensive scan results with the Avast antivirus platform, and you’ll be able to review the results of each scan line by line so you can check for exclusions and scan failures.
  • Network Security – Another reason to opt for Avast if you’re running a Linux-based system is the Fire Server Shield. This security feature enables you to scan files written on any of your mount points so you can keep your network secure.
Pricing

Avast offers a specialized Linux business plan – Avast Business Antivirus for Linux. You can get significant discounts if you commit to a two- or three-year subscription, with the latter saving you up to $100 per device per year.

You can add up to 999 devices on the Business Antivirus for Linux plan, but it’s geared toward smaller businesses and doesn’t have ESET’s scalability.

1 year, 1 device $259.99/year
1 year, 5 devices $159.99/year per device
1 year, 20 devices $134.99/year per device
2 years, 1 device $190/year
2 years, 5 devices $115/year per device
2 years, 20 devices $97.50/year per device
3 years, 1 device $160/year
3 years, 5 devices $96.66/year per device
3 years, 20 devices $83.33/year per device
Who It's Best For

Avast is a great option for small businesses and offers support for a number of Linux distributions. It’s a reliable solution and can help ensure your network remains secure.

Pros

  • Compatible with a variety of Linux distros
  • Provides comprehensive scan result reports
  • Can detect and remove malware on dual-booted systems
  • Continuously updated

Cons

  • Features don’t scale for enterprise firms
  • Could support more distros
Avast
8.6
Review

 

The Best Linux Virus Scanners Compared

Here’s a quick reference table so you can see how the leading Linux antivirus software solutions compare in terms of price, performance, and functionality:

Starting Price Linux Support Money-Back Period Key Features
NordVPN Threat Protection $3.99/month (2 years) Home 30-day money-back guarantee High-Speed VPN, Ad Blocker, Phishing Protection
Bitdefender $1.26/month (3 years) Business, Enterprise, Servers 30-days Ransomware + Phishing Protection, Flexible Plans, Stops Fileless Attacks
Trend Micro Not disclosed Servers, Enterprise 30-days Intuitive Web Console, Automatic Updates, Enhanced Spyware Removal
ESET $17.58/month (annual) Business, Enterprise, Servers 30-days Range of Business Solutions, Easy to Use, MDR Service
Avast $13.33/month (3 years) Business, Servers 30-days Real-Time Updates, Malware Detection for Dual-Booted Systems, File Server Shield
Methodology

How We Review And Test Antivirus Software

15 Antiviruses Tested

20 Datapoints Measured

300+ Hours Testing

500+ User Reviews Read

We base our recommendations on first-hand experience and in-depth testing. All the Antivirus products we suggest, have been tested based on the following criteria:

  • Core Security Features: We make sure that the antivirus software is fully equipped with features like real-time protection, scanning, a firewall, web protection, and more.
  • Malware Detection Rates: We test malware detection rates ourselves by running both in-depth and quick scans on our devices. Additionally, we check independent lab tests.
  • Compatibility: We check which devices and operating systems the antivirus software is compatible with. Often, different-looking dashboards and slightly different packages of features may be available.
  • Performance Impact: A reliable and functional antivirus should not slow down your device significantly. So, we examine our device performance with and without the antivirus running.
  • Customer Experience: Alongside our own experience, we are curious to know what real users have to say regarding the services. So, we’ve scoured the web for feedback on each of our tested antiviruses.
  • Value for Money: We always consider value for money and how much each product is offering for the set price point.

Does Linux Need Antivirus?

Linux is more secure than Windows and macOS, and may be immune to Windows viruses, but it’s not impregnable. While there are fewer viruses developed for this operating system, your device absolutely can still get infected with malicious programs if you don’t have sufficient protection.

Just like Windows users, Linux systems are targeted with ransomware and phishing attacks, and given that many critical systems run on Linux devices, they can be particularly rich targets for hackers looking to infiltrate businesses and institutional systems. In addition, while some distros have built-in security features, there’s no fully fledged equivalent to Windows Defender.

Because of this, Linux users are advised to get antivirus software, especially for commercial systems and networks and when dealing with sensitive files.

How to Choose the Best Antivirus Software for Linux

There are a number of factors to consider before purchasing an anti-virus for Linux. Not every antivirus is compatible with Linux, for starters, and those that are may not work with your distro.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the key factors that you should consider when picking the best anti-malware for Linux:

Malware detection ratesReal-time threat protectionCompatibility Ease of usePrice

The key factor when it comes to choosing an antivirus is how effective it is in detecting and eliminating malware and viruses. All the solutions on my list have high malware detection rates and offer protection against a range of cyber threats.

In addition to effective virus and malware scans, it’s important for antiviruses to include network security, firewalls, and behavioral scanning to catch emerging threats and prevent malicious actors from gaining access to your systems.

You should carefully read through the official documentation on the vendor’s website before making a purchase to ensure that the antivirus solution will run smoothly on your system and that it will support the devices you need to protect on your network, such as serving as an antivirus for Mac.

You may also want cross-compatibility for Windows user support.

You shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to deploy and enable an antivirus on your Linux machine. That’s why I’ve given points to packages that make it easy to run regular scans and that require minimal maintenance.

It’s important to understand the price-to-value ratio.

Pay attention to the features and functionality you’re getting for your money with different subscription tiers and different antivirus apps and how they apply to different use cases, whether you want to protect servers, a small business, or an enterprise firm.

Can You Get a Good Free Linux Antivirus?

There’s a tight-knit community of Linux users today developing all kinds of free-to-use open-source applications, including antivirus solutions like ClamAV. While you can get a free antivirus product for Linux to help you protect your system, there are several important factors to consider.

Open-source antivirus solutions like ClamAV require a decent level of technical knowledge of the Linux operating system to install and run. Anti-virus software Linux users can find for free also often lacks a graphical user interface, so you’ll have to rely on command line access, and you’ll have to manually update the antivirus at regular intervals.

These antivirus solutions also lack the advanced security features that you get with premium antivirus apps, which are particularly important for commercial use cases.

In addition, a free Linux virus scanner is just a virus scanning tool and won’t include a firewall or protection from phishing attacks and online scams. That’s why I recommend opting for a premium antivirus solution to secure your system rather than settling for the best free antivirus software for Linux.

How to Set Up NordVPN Threat Protection on Linux

Setting up NordVPN Threat Protection on Linux only takes a few steps. Here’s a simple how-to guide to help you get started.

  1. Sign Up for NordVPN

    Go to NordVPN and sign up for a subscription. Next, you’ll need to download NordVPN.

    <strong>Sign Up for NordVPN</strong>
  2. Download NordVPN

    Open the terminal and enter the command seen in the image below.

    <strong>Download NordVPN</strong>
  3. Log in and Connect

    Next, log into NordVPN and connect, using the commands “nordvpn login” and “nordvpn connect.”

  4. Enable Threat Protection

    You can now enable Threat Protection with the commands “nordvpn set threatprotectionlite on” and “nordvpn set threatprotectionlite off.”

    If you have the app open, you can also select the shield in the left menu and then click the switch to turn Threat Protection on.

    <strong>Enable Threat Protection</strong>

 

Conclusion – What’s the Best Antivirus for Linux Systems?

Linux machines are by no means immune to viruses and malware, and getting Linux security software ensures you have protection in place for your device and data.

NordVPN Threat Protection is an excellent solution for web protection. What’s more, the inclusion of a first-class VPN, substantial amounts of encrypted storage, and a password manager puts it a step ahead of other products for protecting a Linux system.

Bitdefender, meanwhile, is an excellent buisness antivirus tool that can block ransomware and fileless malware attacks and can protect Linux devices and servers, as well as Windows and macOS systems.

FAQs

Do all antiviruses work for Linux?

What’s the best antivirus for Linux?

What’s the best free Linux antivirus?

What’s a good Ubuntu antivirus?

Are there Linux antivirus tools for home users?

Is Linux Mint safe from viruses?

Aleksandar Stevanovic
Software Reviews Expert
Aleksandar Stevanovic
Software Reviews Expert

Aleksandar Stevanovic spent 10 years honing his craft as a freelance content writer. He has a degree in Economics, and extensive experience in software, crypto, and cybersecurity industries. He covers a multitude of topics, writing factual and informative articles, helping individuals better understand the intricacies of the online world. Over the last two years, his research focus shifted more towards tech and software content, as evidenced by his publications on CEX.IO, Business2Community, and Techopedia. He believes in simplifying complex topics and bringing them closer to like-minded individuals. His work is as detail-oriented as it is creative, and is designed to…