Do I need to worry about viruses and defragmentation?

[Mark Haney]

markfpyles wrote:
> Hi everyone:
> 
> I was just wondering since I am just coming off of a windows machine whether
> or not I need to have some type of anti-virus software installed and also if
> I need to worry about defragmentation. Thanks.
> 
> I am using a Dell Inspiron laptop running Ubuntu 8.04. Thanks.
> 
> 

My (inconsiderable) two cents worth. I know it's been beaten to death, 
but I wanted to throw my lot in.

I'm not sure I would /worry/ about viruses, but I certainly advocate 
running an AV scanner (clamAV for me).  Keep in mind, the more popular a 
platform/app gets the more likely people will begin to target it.  (It's 
the old 'ounce of prevention....' proverb.

File fragmentation isn't a problem in linux due to the nature of the 
various file systems available.  The common ones (ext3 being the most 
common/used) aren't susceptible to that particular Windows problem.



-- 
Frustra laborant quotquot se calculationibus fatigant pro inventione 
quadraturae circuli

Mark Haney
Sr. Systems Administrator
ERC Broadband
(828) 350-2415

Call (866) ERC-7110 for after hours support