Linux Antivirus and Firewall Beta from Panda

Panda Software released a new public beta today for DesktopSecure, their antivirus and firewall program for Linux. It's available as a free download from their Web site, and should run on major distributions including Redhat, SUSE and Debian. I've got it running right now under Ubuntu (Breezy Badger).

No, there isn't any huge new influx of Linux malware to be addressed: CTO Patrick Hinojosa says it's meant more to help Linux users be good neighbors by getting rid of Windows trojans and the like that might be lurking on a Linux box. He said the app does protect against known Linux threats, though, and it's always good to have a firewall.

The bi-directional firewall is more like available Windows firewalls than Linux firewalls that I've used. Meaning that you get a pop-up asking whether you want to allow or deny new inbound or outbound traffic, instead of the up-front policy charts in programs like firestarter. It does have an option to automatically allow common, known programs like Firefox to connect to the Internet, and you can set individual rules based on port, protocol and the like in the advanced settings.

You have to register with Panda to get the download (take note of a number of checkboxes towards the bottom of the registration page to opt-out of marketing emails).

When it's finished, Hinojosa says the base program will be free, and virus signature updates will come with a "Linux friendly" price tag. Expect it to cost a fair bit less than updates for Panda's Windows product. Both products will check for the same signatures.

Comments

Has anyone read the directions for installing it? I've always been interested in using/switching to a Linux distribution, but until software applications can be easily and cleanly installed there will never be an extensive user base. That's probably fine with a lot of geeks, but I consider it a shame.

May 11, 2006

11:24 AM PT

No better time to switch than now. Installations are very easy. Synaptic and smart updaters are making installations childs play (with a password).

Anonymous

May 11, 2006

11:33 AM PT

If you know how to point and click, you can install software on a modern Debian or RPM based Linux distro. Software installation is done through a package manager like YAST for Suse or Synaptic for Debian based distros. Linux is no longer just a geek operating system.

It is about time a good bi-directional fiewall was available for Linux. I like the control a bi-directional firewall gives me on internet access. A good comercial Antivirus is also very much needed today also for added security on networks.

mstlyevil

May 11, 2006

2:43 PM PT

Seems like a good product and EVERY operating system needs a good firewall. Regarding the ease of installing software on various Linux distros, I too have found it a bit unnerving. If, for instance, I want to update Firefox, what is the procedure? Perhaps I'm terminally in a Windows frame of mind, but I enjoy the automatic updates of Firefox in Windows, and ease of download, click, click, installations for other apps. Does Linux offer these conveniences?

Anonymous

May 11, 2006

5:03 PM PT

It works in Debian only on 2.6.8-kernel. Yesterday I updated to 2.6.16.16. (Meanwhile, in Ubuntu antivir works on 2.6.12, if I'm not mistaken.) So, I understand, that 2.6.8 is quite atable kernel and is used, may be, by corpirations, but I'm a home-user and usually use the newest software. Now I see, that uselessly spent about 100Mb of traffic...

Antidoto

May 11, 2006

10:21 PM PT

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