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Not built in but you can buy anti-trojan/anti-virus software for linux.

http://hardware.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=16048 9&op=Reply&threshold=-1&commentsort=3&tid=184&mode =thread&pid=13435309

Also note that Mcafee makes a real-time anti-virus scanner for linux. It might be the only one around.

http://www.networkassociates.com/us/products/mcafe e/antivirus/fileserver/linuxshield.htm

If linux ever hits more than 1-2% of desktops expect anti-virus to become standard. Just look at how many mac users run anti-virus.

They do, it's called Virex and it's a piece of shit. Runaway processes that eat CPU time, system instability, file corruption, incorrectly flagged files... I'm just glad there are no viruses to make me have to use it.

Considering there really isn't a virus problem for Linux either, this makes perfect sense.

In particular you can get McCafee AV for Linux.

The reality is that almost no other commercial software vendor will provide you with updates if you aren't current on maintenance, let alone pirated the software in the first place.

Ehh, what? Seems like a CLEAR MANDATE to me!

That doesn't mean you still can't spread viruses for other operating systems.

I run Virex/OSX and occassionally (though rarely) find something on my HD that's carrying a Windows payload.

The possibility of one of those files somehow winding up on Winboxen in my multi-platform network does exist, and if so, it could be as deadly a situation as if the Windows PC originated the file to begin with.

Actually, some might be able to argue that the LSB is in a way a monoculture. The LSB is good since it gives software vendors a common base rather than having to develop a package for different distributions. But, would the LSB also be an invitation to would-be virus writers? As Linux grows in popularity, we can expect to see more virus attempts. Of note, another reader said the McAfee has an antivirus for Linux. It is called McAfee LinuxShield. http://www.networkassociates.com/us/products/mcafe e/antivirus/fileserver/linuxshield.htm

Another question is that as more and more users migrate from Windows, we they also be migrating the bad Internet practices that many of them have? On the whole, I believe that Linux users today tend to be more Internet savvy than users of Windows in that they are familiar with and regularly implement good Internet practices such as using a user account for every day purposes such as surfing the web and reading email vice using a root account or one with root access. That being said, if Windows users also migrate their bad habits, then Linux can be more vulnerable in that respect than it currently is. As we spread the word about Linux, then we should also be willing to teach them vice saying things like "RTFM".

Linux by its UNIX-like nature, even if it were monoculture, is not nearly as susceptible to virus attacks as Windows. This is one of Linux's most valuable features.

Amen to the comments on EditPlus! Great damn program for the money.

I have more than 10 in my "start from scratch" install, so here goes:

• Acrobat 5
• AdAware 6
• EditPlus (the best damn win32 text editor.)
• Macromedia Fireworks
• Microsoft Remote Desktop (damn good Terminal for Win32)
• Microsoft Office (counting it as one program)
• Nero
• Offline Explorer Pro
• Putty (god bless Simon Tatham!)
• Screen Calipers
• Trillian
• TweakUI
• VirusScan Enterprise
• WinAmp
• WinZip

I'm going to have to check out FileZilla... I've used CuteFTP, LeechFTP, and some others... I've never found one I'm completely happy with. PDF Creator and SpyBot SS look like good programs to have too... thx for the links!

Cygwin usually goes on a machine after a while, but it's an "install as needed" item. I've decided to use RealAlternative instead of installing RealPlayer for the rare occasions I need to view a RAM stream.

Right, I mean, all you really have to do to get new defs/engine is to look for them. For example:

Today's McAfee Definitions
Today's Symantec (Norton) Definitions
Today's TrendMicro Antivirus Definitions

All these are available free from the vendor along with engine updates (and I found them all in five minutes using just a search engine). The suckers paying $20 a year are actually just paying for their app's "LiveUpdate" or similar feature to work, when they could either use a non-broken, older version, or grab the definitions every week or so off the vendor's website.

All revenue brought in by the subscriptions is simply a tax on laziness. Well, except it's paid to those companies instead of the government. You know what I mean.

Adobe's a member of the BSA.

The BSA has an interesting statement on the DMCA here. This is a response to a Library of Congress rule available here.

Members of the BSA include Adobe, Apple Computer, Autodesk, Bentley Systems, CNC Software/Mastercam, Compaq, Corel Corporation, IBM, Intel, Intuit, Lotus Development, Macromedia, Microsoft, Network Associates, Novell, Sybase, Symantec, and Walker Digital; i.e. most of /.'s favourite hate companies, plus some extras.

These are the guys to line up against. They've been around since the '80s. I suspect that Adobe's lawyers are all BSA stooges. Certainly Adobe's PR department doesn't seem to be toeing the BSA line.