ClamAV
ClamAV is a long-established open-source antivirus toolkit. Its scanning engine and regularly updated signature database detect viruses, trojans, and malware across files, and it is a mainstay for scanning email attachments on Linux mail gateways as well as files on hosting servers.
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HOW IT WORKS
It runs as an on-demand scanner or as a daemon (clamd) for fast repeated scans, and its freshclam updater keeps signatures current. Crucially, ClamAV is the engine embedded in or paired with many higher-level hosting security tools, so even admins who never run it directly often rely on it underneath.
ClamAV is signature-based and general-purpose, so on web hosting it is usually paired with a hosting-tuned scanner (maldet) or a commercial suite that adds web-specific and behavioural detection. On its own it is the free, dependable baseline scan engine.
Category context: Server-side malware detection that scans files independent of the CMS; catches backdoors and webshells signature scanners miss. Used by hosts.
WHAT IT DOES
- Open-source antivirus scanning engine and signature database
- On-demand and daemonised (clamd) scanning
- Mail-gateway scanning for attachments
- Used as the engine behind many hosting security tools
BEST FOR
- Mail servers scanning inbound attachments
- Hosting servers wanting a free baseline scan engine
- Pairing with maldet for hosting-focused detection
ALTERNATIVES TO CLAMAV
The open-source malware scanner for Linux shared hosting, built around threat data from real-world attacks.
Compare →Behavioural server-side malware detection that catches what signature scanners miss.
Compare →Comprehensive server security suite widely deployed by shared hosts.
Compare →CLAMAV FAQ
What is ClamAV?
ClamAV is a free, open-source antivirus engine maintained by Cisco Talos. It scans files and email attachments against a regularly updated signature database and runs on demand or as a daemon (clamd). It is one of the most widely used scan engines on Linux and underpins many hosting and mail security products.
Is ClamAV good for web hosting malware?
ClamAV is a solid free baseline, but its general-purpose signatures miss some web-specific malware and obfuscated webshells. On hosting servers it is usually paired with a hosting-tuned scanner like Linux Malware Detect, or replaced/augmented by commercial tools such as Monarx or Imunify360 for behavioural detection.
Does ClamAV run in real time?
ClamAV itself is primarily an on-demand and daemon-based scanner. Real-time, on-access scanning is achieved by pairing clamd with a file-change watcher (such as the inotify hooks in Linux Malware Detect) or the OnAccess feature, which watches directories and scans files as they change.
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