Install Avira Antivir on Linux
In yesterday's post (see "Scan a Windows drive for viruses using Linux") in which I mentioned the Avira Antivir software. This piece of software is a commercial, cross-platform anti-virus solution that offers both a GUI and a command line interface. For this article we will only deal with the command line version of the tool.
The Avira company offers a number of different solutions. Scan through their product overview to find out which solution is best for you. But for this article we are looking at the Avira Antivir workstation solution for linux. In this article I will show you how to install and use this outstanding product.
Before you begin
There is one pre-requisite for installation. If you want to use the real-time scanner you have to have Dazuko installed. This is a fairly complex installation which requires either building your own kernel or compiling Dazuko against your kernel source. We will deal with this in a later article, so skip the AvGuard installation for now.
Once this is finished you are ready to install Antivir.
Unpacking and installing
Hopefully you have already downloaded the source from the link above (see Avira Antivir workstation solution for Linux). Open up a terminal and change to the directory holding that file. The first step is to unpack the tar with the command:
- tar xvzf antivir-workstation-pers.tar.gz
- Once you've done that change into the new created directory. If you do a listing of this directory you will find an executable install script. This is the way to install. Issue the command sudo ./install and enter your sudo password.
- Here are the steps you will have to walk through:
- View the license (space bar to view, Enter for accepting).
- Enter the path to your license key (the key will be hbedv.key that you need to purchase from the site). For evaluation purposes just hit Enter here.
- Install the internet daemon. If you want to install the auto updater, hit enter.
- Create a link for avupdater. (You will want this).
- Would you like the update daemon to start automatically? (You will want this).
- Do you want to install AvGuard (real-time scanner). For now we will skip this, until I have addressed the installation of Dazuko. The installation of Antivir can be rerun and AvGuarded added to it.
- Configure AntiVir updater. Hit enter to configure.
- Would you like to be notified about updates. This is up to you.
- Would you like the updater to log to a custom file? You will want this.
- Accept the default location for the updater log.
- How often should AntiVir check for updates (the default is every 2 hours - you might change that to once a day (d).
- What time should updates be done. The default is RANDOM.
- Does this machine use a proxy server? y/n
- Save configuration settings? Hit Enter.
- Would you like to apply the configuration? Hit Enter.
- Hit Enter to complete, but take note of the common commands listed.
Usage
Using AntiVir is actually quite simple. Here are some of the commands you will want to know:
- Configure the updater: /usr/lib/AntiVir/configantivir
- Start update daemon: /usr/lib/AntiVir/avupdater start
- Stop update deamon: /usr/lib/AntiVir/avupdater stop
- Update daemon status: /usr/lib/AntiVir/avupdater status
- Running a manual, recursive scan: antivir -s --update --scan-mode=all
NOTE: With only a trial license, the --update argument (used to check for updated virus signatures) will not work. For more arguments to use with the antivir command issue the command antivir -h (as you will not find a man page for this command).
Final thoughts
Avira's Antivir is a powerful tool for the fight against viruses. And just because you are using a Linux workstation, does not mean you should snub anti-virus solutions. You get files from people that you pass on to others (others who may not be using Linux as their workstation). You will want to make sure those files are virus-free.
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Other way: don’t install that crappy AV!
I had GOM player slip this in on an update.
Hi! You can also find detailed instructions here: http://www.avg.com/ww-en/secure-search-uninstall I hope it helps. Thanks.
if anyone actually took the time to read through their earnings statement would understand the importance of the toolbar, it’s a cash cow, and can’t blame them for pushing it to uninformed users.
it’s not a company to bet on when it’s driven mostly by short term revenue rather than innovation…
The sitesafety plugin is spyware which cannot be removed from your browser EVER. I have uninstalled the toolbar, and made the error if saying “Yes, keep sitesafety for secure web searches” which means FOREVER. I have deleted all files pointing to AVG, because they will no longer uninstall through control panel add/remove. “Could not uninstall at this time try again later” I don’t want to DISABLE it I want it GONE. But it keeps regenerating. AVG Secure Search directory keeps coming back to life in my Programs Folder, even though I removed everything called AVG in document and settings profiles for administrator, all users, myself, default users, it keeps coming back. It keeps UPDATING with Firefox’s update plugin option, so I am unable to auto update my other VALID plugins due to that one being auto updated and reinstalling everything too. NEVER USE AVG for anything, THEY refuse to help remove it too. They say it is something I must have done. YES, I made the mistake of clicking “Yes, keep avg secure search while removing the toolbar” I have read elsewhere that this IS THE KILLER DECISION. It makes removing secure search impossible.
I cannot seem to block AVG security search toolbar from reinstalling. Whether I use windows uninstall or Revo, I get “Could not uninstall at this time try again later. Revo does show all the files it thinks are related to AVG secure search toolbar, which are scattered throughout my drive, and I select all and delete. The next day I get a new task-bar pop up asking to activate, I decline, but look in the programs and there is AVG secure search listed again!!! I tried in Chrome to block any cookies from AVG, [*.]avg.com, Blocked, under privacy setting. Any thoughts. I also have Symantec endpoint protection but it has no clue this is going on. Any ideas?
“So what’s the purpose of the toolbar? It ships with a link scanner that displays security information about websites. This is similar to what Web of Trust does. The toolbar itself offers search, weather information, a link to a speedtest and other features that are not really related to security.” Relevant security information about known/unknown websites; a SMALL matter you omitted. Similar to Web of Trust but not the same; another omission In math terms no equal. No, these features are not related to security but are securely offered. Correct me on the last point if I am wrong. I will ask AVG as I conclude with our conversation. “Martin Brinkmann… He is passionate about all things tech and knows the Internet and computers like the back of his hand.” Yea, sure. And at my age I am just to believe it “because I read it on the Internet.” What? Did you write this yourself, Martin? Not ALL of us fall for the same old lame lines. Superior products come from Germany as do Sweden. AVG will tell anyone, for free, how to uninstall their free product line. How would I know? I asked them! Oh, but pardon me. My day and age has passed; you “blogger’s” know everything know adays. Asking a company is tantamount to stupid these days for you young people. I would suppose you consider all the times AVG Safe Search and Surf Shield saved a computer one time as to all the other useless apps out there that freeze a computer to be the main danger to the computer. And we are talking computers, Mr Brinkmann, as a cell phone is a computer with the ability to make a call. Verses a true mobile phone back in my day. Well, you have better things to blog about than an old man like me. In the end, sir, the problem IS the end user and not a company who builds free products for those who know not how to employ them. Try writing about the ineptitude of the end-user. After all if everyone knew their computers OS and how to…… Well, safe to say, Mr. Brinkmann, your work shall never end.
All I have left on my pc is AVG secure search. When I try the normal Uninstall page of Control Panel, it just hangs and I end up having to restart. The longest we have left it is 4 hours. I have also tried Revo, as another forum swears by it. Same problem.
Even the AVG site gives you both the Unistall option (that doesn’t work) and the Add Ons option (I use Firefox). Neither work at all.
Whatever I do, it just hangs. I cant get rid of it. Please help.
AVG CRAP can be easily removed with FILE UNLOCKER, COMPLETELY REMOVED! After
removing AVG CRAP, restore IE by downloading Microsofts IE repair software. PRESTO – NO
MORE AVG BULLSHIT or lame Indian tech support asking for payment to remove their own
garbage. AVG installs if you download winzip7 from softpedia, and system information wizard from other download sites.
I removed all instances of vprot.exe from my registry and startup (run). I then removed everything under “C:\Program Files (x86)\AVG Secure Search”. Then I edited the properties of the “AVG Secure Search” directory, removing inheritance and leaving my account as having the only access and finally, I denied my accounts right to traverse folder/execute file. After a several reboots for good measure, I am having no problem.
Since the directory exists, AVG can’t create it and the system has no rights to the one that exists, so whatever process keeps reinstalling it, is shutdown cold.