Kaspersky Lab has released its flagship Kaspersky anti-virus software for home users on Linux, a platform where its security tools were previously only available for enterprise customers.
Now, malware is not exactly very common on GNU/Linux, at least compared to Windows or macOS. The OS"s design relies on a strict user permission model that prevents malicious programs from easily gaining system-wide access without a user explicitly granting it with a password.
Software is also typically installed from vetted, centralized repositories, which reduces the chance of downloading something nasty from a random website. Because of this, many Linux users have often seen no need for an antivirus.
But Kaspersky insists that the threat landscape is changing and that this perception of immunity is outdated. The company claims the number of malicious programs targeting Linux has "increased 20-fold over the past five years". Kaspersky pointed to last year"s backdoor in the xz utility as a prime example of a close call, calling it potentially "the most widespread attack on the Linux ecosystem in its entire history."
If you get Kaspersky for Linux, you can use it to perform "AI-powered" antivirus scans that monitor your system, devices, and individual files to detect and eliminate malware. The software also scans removable media like USB drives for threats upon connection and provides proactive defense by detecting malware through behavior analysis.
It also includes an anti-phishing feature that warns you about dangerous links and online payment protection that verifies the security of banking websites before you make a transaction.
The antivirus is available for major 64-bit Linux distros, distributed in both DEB and RPM package formats. Supported systems currently include Ubuntu, ALT Linux, Uncom, and RED OS.
As expected, Kaspersky for Linux is tied to the company"s tiered subscription plans: Kaspersky Standard, Kaspersky Plus, and Kaspersky Premium. Although the feature set for Linux users is identical regardless of the chosen plan, the pricing differs based on the protections offered for other operating systems.
The most cost-effective option for someone only protecting a Linux machine is the Standard plan, which starts at $38.99 per year. A 30-day free trial is available for those who want to test it first.
Do note that as a direct result of the U.S. government"s ban, sales of all Kaspersky products and services to customers within the United States are prohibited.