June 1, 2024 at 05:34PM
Kaspersky released a new virus removal tool called KVRT for Linux, offering free scanning and removal of malware and known threats. Despite misconceptions about Linux security, recent backdoor examples prove otherwise. KVRT is not real-time protection but scans and cleans malware, adware, and more, supporting various Linux distributions. The tool works on 64-bit systems and requires an active internet connection. Users can run it in a graphical interface or as a command-line tool. Note that BleepingComputer hasn’t tested its effectiveness or safety.
Based on the meeting notes, here are the key takeaways:
1. Kaspersky has released a new virus removal tool named KVRT for the Linux platform, designed to scan systems and remove malware and other known threats for free.
2. Despite common misconceptions about the security of Linux systems, Kaspersky notes that there have been examples proving otherwise, such as the recent XZ Utils backdoor.
3. KVRT is not a real-time threat protection tool but a standalone scanner capable of detecting and cleaning malware, adware, legitimate programs abused for malicious purposes, and other known threats.
4. Deleted or disinfected copies of malicious files are stored in a quarantine directory for root users.
5. The application uses a frequently updated antivirus database, but users need to download a new copy for the latest definitions each time. It can scan system memory, startup objects, boot sectors, and all files in the operating system for known malware.
6. KVRT only supports 64-bit systems and requires an active internet connection to work.
7. The tool has been tested on popular Linux distributions, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux, CentOS, Linux Mint, Ubuntu, SUSE, openSUSE, and Debian, among others.
8. It can be executed via a graphical user interface (GUI) or the terminal as a command-line tool.
9. Regular users executing the scanner do not have the necessary permissions to scan all directories and partitions where threats could be hiding.
10. During initialization, the scanner unpacks necessary files into a temporary directory, which are wiped once it’s closed.
11. Users can download KVRT from the provided link and follow detailed instructions on setting up the binary for execution via the GUI and the console.
12. BleepingComputer has not tested the effectiveness or guaranteed the safety of KVRT, so users are advised to use the tool at their own risk.
These takeaways summarize the key information related to the KVRT virus removal tool as discussed in the meeting notes.