Use Linux To Scan Your Windows PC

Not long ago I wrote about installing Linux beside Windows, a free and fairly easy way to get a second operating system on your computer.

Linux offers many advantages, including the ability to scan all your Windows files for malware.

This can be exceptionally effective because the Windows malware doesn't know about the Linux install, and is powerless to stop Linux from fixing problems.


Once the process is done, you should be able to boot back in to Windows and work normally.

Personally I'm a fan of Clam AV, an open source antivirus engine for detecting trojans, viruses, malware & other malicious threats.

Clam AV runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

For Windows I suggest using Sophos as an anti-malware app, and having Clam available in Linux if you need it.

To install Clam AV on Linux you can download the appropriate installer package from their website. If you are using Ubuntu Linux just enter the following command in a terminal window:

sudo apt install clamav

You'll need to enter your admin password when prompted and after that the install will proceed.

Having a copy of Linux available on your computer is beneficial for many reasons, but helping to recover Windows if you have a problem makes it priceless.

Think of it as car insurance for your computer, you don't need it until you need it, but then it's too late.

Happy surfing!

-The Home Geek