There are no viruses which are capable of self replicating onto other systems. The only anti virus software for linux exists to prevent virus infection on windows computers connected to the linux system.
While I am not planning myself to use av on my nokia, this point is often overlooked.
The scenario is this - someone forwards an infected file to you. You are running linux, and so are unaware and unaffected by the virus. You forward the file on to your mother who has let her av updates lapse.
She opens the attachment because she trusts her children.
Who is responsible? The person who forwarded the email to you, your mother, or you? Pick any of these and then imagine explaining it to your mother.
Change the setting to one of business. You receive a doc from a business partner who has never heard of av. You forward it on to a customer who has also never heard of av. They are infected from the email you sent. Bam, they are not your customer any more.
A carrier of a virus is just as culpable as someone infected by one.
While I am not planning myself to use av on my nokia, this point is often overlooked.
The scenario is this - someone forwards an infected file to you. You are running linux, and so are unaware and unaffected by the virus. You forward the file on to your mother who has let her av updates lapse.
She opens the attachment because she trusts her children.
Who is responsible? The person who forwarded the email to you, your mother, or you? Pick any of these and then imagine explaining it to your mother.
Change the setting to one of business. You receive a doc from a business partner who has never heard of av. You forward it on to a customer who has also never heard of av. They are infected from the email you sent. Bam, they are not your customer any more.
A carrier of a virus is just as culpable as someone infected by one.
The person who forwarded an attachment 1. from someone they didn't know 2. that they hadn't opened themselves are culpable.
This sounds like a different scenario. Knowing someone doesn't remove the possibility they send you an infected file, and opening a file on a linux box that doesn't have an av scanner won't remove or notify you that there is a virus installed.
So now you have to explain to your customer why you sent them a virus infected file. I am sure they will accept your explanation of "I knew the person who sent me it and opened it in openoffice without issues".
