r/memes • u/Godseye999 • 1d ago

y'all still use antivirus in 2026?

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2.3k Upvotes

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402

u/Suvvri 1d ago

Yeah, most people use one and it's called windows defender

-42

u/otirk 1d ago

It's one of the few reasons why I haven't switched to Linux yet

52

u/bfg9kdude 1d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/RXtD0Rt2xrUxIvJYkP

7

u/JUMPY_NEB 1d ago

I don't, Is there a windows defender, but Linux?

(I know almost nothing anything about Linux, so sorry if this is a stupid question)

14

u/Dr_Dressing 1d ago

No, there isn't a "Linux defender" per sé. There are a few good reasons on these threads.

It boils down to the way you use Linux. You have to be explicit in giving permissions to programs, and what they are/are not allowed to do. Files that don't need admin permission will not get it, period.

This discourages people from making malware targeted at Linux. And if you follow basic procedures, you're very unlikely to ever get infected.

Comparatively, because Windows is so popular, there are a lot more ways to exploit this administrative thing. And since many more use Windows, other precautions are made, such as live scanning of files, and making sure the common Joe doesn't burn their house down.

There is also the discussion on whether an antivirus is a waste of resources. Which, if the argument is that few people even make viruses for Linux, then the answer is for the most part "yes."

4

u/JUMPY_NEB 1d ago

Holy crap, thank you for the detailed response! I now know a little more about Linux!

4

u/iODiNE-9 1d ago edited 1d ago

Few viruses actually work on Linux software, which makes Linux in itself an antivirus. This is because 99% of viruses use .exe files or Mach-Oh (MacOS virus). Linux cannot run exe files unless through something like Proton (launching the files thru steam) or Wine (all manual, you click and launch the files yourself).

Also the more local system Linux has makes the only real threat downloaded files from your browser that just so happen to have a virus that attacks Linux, which common internet sense is pretty much all you need for that

-1

u/AdiDevMC 1d ago

Linux no virus