ClamAv: is anyone paying attention?

[Andy]

On 18/11/06, Mario Vukelic <mario.vukelic at dantian.org> wrote:
> I have no idea about ClamAv, but just to be sure: you _do use the
> backports repository, right?
> http://packages.ubuntulinux.org/dapper-backports/utils/clamav-base
>
I have that version, yet clamav still tells me it is majorly outdated
(and tells me not to panic, in capitals with an exclamation point)

from a freshclam output:
main.cvd is up to date (version: 41, sigs: 73809, f-level: 10, builder: tkojm)
WARNING: Your ClamAV installation is OUTDATED!
WARNING: Current functionality level = 8, recommended = 10
DON'T PANIC! Read http://www.clamav.net/faq.html
daily.cvd is up to date (version: 2203, sigs: 3732, f-level: 9,
builder: ccordes)
WARNING: Your ClamAV installation is OUTDATED!
WARNING: Current functionality level = 8, recommended = 9
DON'T PANIC! Read http://www.clamav.net/faq.html

Its a security application, shouldn't it be a little more up to date?
This is one of the few thinks open source doesn't have, good anti-virus.
There have been Linux viruses, and if desktop growth increases there
will be more, we really should get into good practices before problems
strike.

And the 'your not root, it can't trash your system' defence is good
and all, but it can still encrypt all the files in my home directory!

Though in the defence of whoever the maintainer is, he is only 2 minor
releases behind. (and 3 months)

0.9 should be along at some point though, its RC2 at present.

Debian appear to have an extra repository called 'volatile' for apps
that need to be updated regularly for then to be functional. Debian
also has ClamAV 0.88 in testing and unstable.

I am off to go read the wiki now.

Is any virus scanner in main by the way?
Or does Canonical go with the 'if we stick our heads in the sand then
we won't notice any viruses that could infect Linux' which IMHO is a
really bad move since the good people at canonical do have both Python
and Perl installed, so cross platform attacks are possible, as soon as
you find a Windows machine with one of those on it.

- Andy

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