Updated on: January 3, 2026
- 🥇Bitdefender GravityZone Endpoint Security Tools : Delivers enterprise-grade malware protection with real-time scanning, sandboxing, and cross-platform support. It also includes web protection and supports most Linux distros, making it ideal for both personal and server environments.
Linux devices are by no means immune to threats. They can be targeted by malware, rootkits, and network intrusions, especially when used for web hosting, file sharing, or running servers. While threats on Linux are less common than on Windows, they still exist, and a solid antivirus adds an important layer of protection.
Most Linux antivirus solutions are designed for businesses, but many also offer affordable plans that work well for individual users. Even if you don’t manage a large company network, having endpoint protection helps keep your files, emails, and online activity secure. This is especially important if you run a server or seedbox, or if your Linux machine interacts with Windows or macOS systems.
I tested dozens of Linux antiviruses to find the ones that work best. Some free tools provide basic protection, but if you rely on Linux for work, media storage, or running a home server, a premium solution like Bitdefender GravityZone offers far stronger defense and better network control.
Quick Summary of the Best Antiviruses for Linux
🥇1. Bitdefender GravityZone — Best Overall Antivirus for Linux in 2026
Bitdefender GravityZone is my favorite Linux antivirus for 2026. It offers a wide range of features to protect home networks. GravityZone’s products work on all major Linux distros (including Ubuntu, Fedora, Linux Mint, Debian, OpenSUSE, and CentOS) as well as Windows and Mac computers. They offer protection from malware and network intrusions and can cover servers, seedboxes, and more.
- 100% malware detection rate
- Sandbox analyzer
- Easy multi-device management
- Detailed network summaries
- Slightly complex initial setup
GravityZone’s machine learning-based antivirus had a 100% detection rate in my testing, and found malware files designed to run on Linux, Windows, and macOS. In comparison, ClamAV only detected 95% of malware samples in my tests. Bitdefender’s on-access scanner provides comprehensive real-time protection, as well as a Sandbox Analyzer, which safely detonates suspicious files in an isolated environment to observe their behavior before allowing them to run. This provides additional defense against zero-day and evasive malware.
Installing Bitdefender GravityZone on Linux isn’t as straightforward as consumer-grade antiviruses — it requires setting up the web-based admin console and deploying agents on each device. However, once configured, it runs smoothly and integrates well with mixed-OS environments.
It’s pretty easy to manage GravityZone’s various security features across multiple devices using its intuitive web-based Control Center. The console enables you to monitor all your Linux machines or VMs from any browser, view detected threats and incident reports, and access summaries of the actions Bitdefender has taken to protect your network. It also provides a risk score and a detailed overview of your entire network’s security posture and vulnerabilities, helping you identify and address weak points before they’re exploited.
GravityZone’s cloud-based console automatically pushes updates, patches, and policy changes to all connected endpoints, so you don’t need to log into each server individually. This automation keeps your systems up to date without manual effort, making routine maintenance faster and more efficient, especially when managing multiple Linux devices or virtual environments.
I’m impressed by the Live Search tool, too — a feature that makes fetching information (including system statistics and events) from endpoints much easier. It’s not a huge addition, but in my tests, I could find vulnerabilities more quickly using this feature. However, you need to activate the Live Search module in your policy settings before it will work, which some users might find annoying.
Ultimately, GravityZone is designed for businesses that use multiple operating systems, but it can also work well on extensive home networks. The best plan in this case is the Ultimate Small Business Security package. It can cover between 1 and 100 devices and costs just $188.99 / year for 10 endpoints. All plans cover 1 Linux server, too. Bitdefender also provides a free on-demand scanner for Linux, but it doesn’t include real-time protection or centralized management like GravityZone.
Bottom Line:
Bitdefender GravityZone is a powerful tool for protecting Linux and other devices. Its advanced malware scanner uses machine learning to detect threats in real-time, and it scored a 100% malware detection rating during my testing. I appreciate Bitdefender’s cloud-based Control Center feature, which makes it easy to manage firewalls, app sandboxing, web filters, and more for all licensed devices. All Bitdefender plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Bitdefender review here >
🥈2. Sophos Intercept X Advanced for Server — Best for Home Linux Users
Sophos Intercept X Advanced for Server provides excellent network protection for Linux users in the home and business environments. It uses a massive proprietary malware database, advanced heuristics, and deep learning AI to locate and remove all types of malware, including zero-day threats. Like Bitdefender, the business plans can be helpful for home Linux users running complex operations. It’s ideal if you’re hosting file-sharing services such as Samba or NFS, running personal web or game servers, or managing VMs that need consistent protection against network-based threats.
- Advanced heuristic protection
- Supports custom whitelisting
- Offers a free trial
- Complex installation process
- Full Lockdown mode not available
That said, the server protection afforded by Sophos is excellent. It can neutralize malware, detect exploits, and more. Sophos Central also lets you configure policy controls for Linux, including allowed applications and exclusions. However, it doesn’t provide the full Lockdown mode available on Windows, where only pre-approved programs can run. Like most Sophos’ products, the server protection uses advanced heuristics to detect new threats. Updates are handled automatically through the Sophos Central platform, ensuring that all signatures and security engines remain current without requiring user intervention.
The installation process can be a bit complex for beginners, as Sophos Intercept X for Linux servers is primarily designed for business IT setups. You’ll need to follow command-line installation steps and configure policies via the Sophos Central console. However, once configured, it runs efficiently without frequent manual input.
Sophos’s cloud-based dashboard makes it easy to monitor all connected servers, view security events, and respond to alerts in real time. I also liked how lightweight the agent was during my tests — it didn’t slow down my file transfers or web access, even under heavy load.
You can get Sophos Intercept X Endpoint for Server on a 30-day free trial. Once this trial ends, you can find a reseller who’ll provide a quote based on your needs. In my testing, the price I was quoted to cover my small home network was super reasonable.
Bottom Line:
Sophos Intercept X Endpoint offers some of the best malware protection for Linux servers. Though it doesn’t offer protection for most endpoints, it’s a great plan for protecting your home server from nasty threats that could compromise your entire network.
Read the full Sophos review here >
🥉3. Avast Business Antivirus for Linux — Excellent Malware Detection and Removal (Good Enterprise Features)
Avast offers great plans for Linux users in the form of its Business Antivirus for Linux plan. If you run a Linux server at home, chances are you could benefit from the plan designed to protect servers and the devices that connect to them, making it a solid option if you manage a home lab, NAS, or small network. Although Avast’s Business Antivirus for Linux is primarily built for servers, it also runs smoothly on popular desktop distributions like Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian, making it a practical option for advanced home users as well.
- Easy setup and management
- Simple scan reports and summaries
- Frequent signature updates
- No firewall
- Lacks a graphical user interface
Effective malware detection and removal is the first thing I look for in any antivirus. Avast doesn’t disappoint in this regard, clearing every threat from my Ubuntu desktop in short order. It continuously scans files in real time, instantly blocking threats the moment they’re accessed or executed. This proactive approach keeps malware from spreading across your Linux environment.
Running scans is both easy and enlightening. The results can be viewed as a simple summary or a line-by-line rundown of everything Avast scanned. Manual scans are always available, but Avast is also backed by real-time protection that checks every file written to the server for threats.
Installing Avast Business Antivirus for Linux is equally straightforward, but it requires running a few terminal commands to complete the setup. The process is clearly documented, and advanced users will find it easy to integrate into existing Linux environments. Additionally, unlike Avast’s Windows and macOS solutions, the Linux version isn’t managed through the Avast Business Hub. Instead, it uses a local command-line interface for configuration and management.
Avast’s Business Antivirus for Linux plans are a good way to protect Linux devices and enterprise systems. For most home users, the server plan is the best option. It provides full coverage to 1 Linux server for $259.99 / year. You can add more servers and save money if you have more than 5. All plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Avast’s Business Antivirus for Linux offers solid protections for Linux users. Whether you manage tech for a small business or operate a small Linux network at home, Avast can protect your server. It offers strong fundamental malware protection on all plans, supports multiple Linux distros, and is constantly updated.
Read the full Avast review here >
4. ClamAV — Best Open-Source Malware Scanner on Linux
ClamAV is a trusted open-source antivirus for Linux, and one of the few truly free Linux antiviruses in 2026. It offers reliable malware detection and strong customization for users who prefer command-line tools over graphical interfaces.
- Open-source and community-driven
- Lightweight and fast scans
- Highly customizable
- Command-line only interface
- Misses some malware samples
When I tested ClamAV’s malware scanner, it detected 95% of malware samples on my Debian 12 computer. While this isn’t as effective as Bitdefender (which detected 100% of samples), ClamAV still consistently detects trojans, worms, rootkits, and more. What’s more, its scans used very little CPU, and were very quick.
ClamAV includes:
- Command-line malware scanner.
- Multi-threaded daemon.
- On-access scanning.
- Mail scanning.
However, ClamAV only provides users with a CLI, and there are quite a few commands you need to enter to fine-tune ClamAV’s mail scanning. I wouldn’t recommend it for beginner users, but advanced users will appreciate the control, customization, and protection it provides. Installing ClamAV is also command-line-based, and configuring and enabling its various components (like the daemon or on-access scanning) can take a bit of effort, especially for new users.
I appreciate that ClamAV is truly open-source — its malware directory is constantly updated by users (who can utilize ClamAV’s built-in malware reporting tool to contribute to the database). The open-source Linux community continually works to make ClamAV the definitive free antivirus option for home Linux users. Since it’s community-maintained, there’s no official customer support. Users typically rely on forums and documentation for troubleshooting, which works well for advanced users but can be frustrating for beginners.
ClamAV isn’t suitable for protecting servers or larger networks. But it’s a good option if you’re looking for an antivirus to protect a single Linux device. For home use, ClamAV is a great “set-and-forget” option. You can automate scans using cron or use ClamTk for a visual interface. It’s ideal if you mainly want to prevent infected files from spreading to Windows PCs on your network.
Bottom Line:
ClamAV offers free malware protection, and it’s made by Linux users, for Linux users. If you don’t mind putting some work into learning its commands, it runs silently and is a really good way to keep your Linux machine protected. I’d love to see ClamAV upgrade its malware scanning to be able to detect closer to 100% of malware files, but it’s still an excellent option for home Linux users in 2026.
Read the full ClamAV review here >
Quick Comparison Table
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
To rank the best Linux antivirus software, I used our thorough testing methodology. Regardless of their operating system, we all want protection from malware, network intrusions, and other threats. And we don’t want those defenses to come at a high cost in terms of money or performance. That said, Linux users do have some unique considerations. Here’s what I took a look at:
- I tested each product’s malware detection capabilities. I used an extensive catalog of malicious files to determine the effectiveness of each antivirus. I tried dozens of options, but only a few made the cut. My tests showed that every item on this list can detect most malware. Some, like Bitdefender, scored a 100% success rate.
- I analyzed the impact the antivirus had on performance. If you use your Linux machine or server for CPU-intensive activities, you need a lightweight scanner that won’t consume excessive processing power during scans. Some antivirus programs have a high CPU drain and slow down your system, making all tasks difficult. But every option on this list offers strong protection without using too many resources.
- I reviewed the website of each business plan. Every antivirus on this list is clearly described on its website. I found extensive documentation, clear descriptions of features, and easy channels for contacting support and sales. Basically, it was easy to determine which features each plan brings to the table for Linux users.
- I explored how easy each antivirus was to use. Linux security programs needn’t be overly complex to provide satisfactory security. Some developers never took this note and tend to overdesign things. Luckily, I was able to find a few tools that make managing a secure network easy. Bitdefender GravityZone is particularly effective in simplifying the management of protection across multiple endpoints.
- I checked distro compatibility. Not every antivirus works smoothly across all Linux distributions. Some are optimized for enterprise-grade distros like Red Hat Enterprise Linux or CentOS, while others run perfectly on Ubuntu, Debian, or Fedora. I verified that each antivirus supports popular home and server setups without requiring complex tweaks or dependencies.
- I considered the cost. Even if your home set-up is tied to commercial activity, you’ll want to protect your network without spending too much money. This can be a problem as most Linux antivirus software is geared toward large businesses. Fortunately, I was able to find some affordable options. ClamAV is even free, though it doesn’t offer the full-network protections as the others on this list.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
A few well-known antivirus programs for Linux didn’t qualify for this list. While they were once reliable options, most have been discontinued or no longer receive updates, making them unsuitable for current use. Here are some notable examples:
- ESET NOD32 for Linux. ESET for Linux is an excellent and easy-to-use antivirus program. However, the product was recently discontinued, so it is no longer updated or available for download.
- Panda Antivirus for Linux. While Panda Antivirus for Linux is still available from third-party sites, it’s no longer supported by Panda and won’t offer protection in 2026.
- Comodo for Linux. Although Comodo’s website still advertises support for Linux, this product has actually been discontinued.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an antivirus for Linux?
Yes, you do need an antivirus for Linux. While Linux is more secure than Windows and Mac, the number of malware infections on Linux is increasing in 2026. A good antivirus program for Linux (such as Bitdefender) can keep your Linux computer, servers, and IoT devices protected, and even prevent malware from spreading to Windows and Mac machines.
Do most antivirus programs work for Linux?
Unfortunately, the majority of antivirus programs do not provide Linux support. However, there are still some good antiviruses that do provide Linux support, including Bitdefender GravityZone.
The Linux community also provides some pretty good free protection and reliable open-source security tools such as Firejail/Firetools and RKHunter.
What Linux tools are best if you’re not running a network?
While some of the tools on this list (like Bitdefender) can protect single Linux computers, the truth is that plans aimed at businesses aren’t affordable for most home users. If your use of Linux is mostly confined to a single desktop, you’ll probably want to get a free Linux antivirus. ClamAV is my favorite, but other options offer effective protection against malware, network intrusions, and more. This includes RKHunter, Firejail/Firetools, and even Qubes OS.
Is Linux vulnerable to malware and other cyber threats?
Linux users are vulnerable to many of the same threats as other platforms, including ransomware, phishing attempts, cryptojackers, and other malware. While attackers often focus more on Windows, Linux systems are by no means immune — especially because they’re frequently used as servers or integrated into wider networks. As a result, many cybercriminals try to compromise Linux machines to spread malware, steal data, or gain a foothold in other connected systems, even if the Linux device itself isn’t the primary target.
Additionally, Linux powers much of today’s server and cloud infrastructure. Its smaller share of the consumer desktop market compared to Windows doesn’t make it safer — compromising Linux environments is still a high-value strategy for attackers who want to disrupt companies and large organizations.
Can ransomware infect Linux?
It’s much less common than on Windows and Mac, but Linux-based machines can fall victim to ransomware attacks. This has been happening recently with the emergence of a Linux version of LockBit, which uses an advanced encryption standard to target and encrypt Linux ESXi servers.
Bitdefender GravityZone includes protection for Linux endpoints that can help prevent ransomware attacks.
What is a good antivirus for Linux Ubuntu?
Most Linux-based antivirus programs are compatible with Ubuntu since it’s one of the more well-known and popular Linux distributions. However, I would recommend Bitdefender GravityZone as it includes all of the security features you need to stay protected in 2026, and it has low-cost pricing plans for home users too.
If you don’t want to spend money, you can also check out ClamAV — but free antivirus programs just don’t provide the same level of protection as their premium counterparts.
