Isso simplesmente não é verdade. Existem muitos tipos de códigos maliciosos que podem ser executados no 'Nix.
O ponto é (e o mal-entendido), é que há significativamente menos quando comparado ao Windows. Por alguma razão, tornou-se um lugar comum para usar AV no Windows.
Existem alguns programas antivírus para Linux .
Há também mais informações sobre super usuário . O resto da resposta 'my' é copiado da resposta desse post:
Well, it factually is not... it's just less subject to hackers developing viruses that target Linux systems. Consumer grade computers usually run on Windows and thus, when targeting a wide audience, Windows is the way to go.
Don't misunderstand Linux and viruses, there definitely ARE Linux viruses.
Some distros have additional protection layers such as SELinux in Ubuntu for example. Then there's the default firewall and the fact that alien files don't automatically have permission to be executed. Specific execution permission has to be granted before execution is possible.
Then there are several other factors that make Linux a hard place to be for viruses usually non-root users on Linux systems have no to little executable files at their disposal that would allow for viruses to stay undetected en propagate. Some programs just require you to be logged in as root (or by use of
sudo
) before they run or to access/modify directories other than your home. It's just a lot harder to develop a viable virus that would spread as good as it would in Windows.UPDATE:
As mentioned below, most machines that run Linux are either servers that are run by people who know a thing or two about what they're doing. People that run Linux for desktop use usually choose to and also do know what they're doing. Almost all computer illiterate run Windows and therefore it's much easier to get those computers infected. "Hey, this machine tells me that I have I virus and I have to purchase this Anti-Virus program called 'FAKETrojanHunter' to get rid of it... Okay, let's do it!"
Because no Linux distribution/installation is equal per se, it's harder to develop malware that would infect them all as efficient as possible. Furthermore, almost all software run on Linux is Open Source, making malware much more easily detectable since it's source is open to the public.