Kaspersky has recently introduced a new malware scanning tool called Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool (KVRT) for Linux. This free tool is designed to scan the entire Linux system and eliminate known malware, malvertising, and other threats. Despite Linux being known for its security, Kaspersky highlights the presence of malicious code, such as the recent XZ Utils backdoor, on the platform.
KVRT is not a real-time protection tool but a standalone scanner, capable of scanning system memory, boot objects, boot sectors, and all files in the operating system for malware. The tool uses an updated antivirus database to detect the latest threats, and users are required to download new updates to ensure efficient scanning.
KVRT is compatible with several popular Linux distributions, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux, CentOS, Linux Mint, Ubuntu, SUSE, openSUSE, and Debian. However, even if a distribution is not on the list of supported systems, KVRT is likely to function effectively.
To use KVRT, users need to download the file from Kaspersky’s website, grant it execution rights, and run it as root for maximum effectiveness. It can be run on a graphical interface or command line, catering to various usage needs.
While Kaspersky emphasizes the effectiveness of KVRT, users are advised to exercise caution when using the tool.