ClamAV - ArchWiki

# ClamAV

Clam AntiVirus is an open source (GPL) anti-virus toolkit for UNIX. It provides a number of utilities including a flexible and scalable multi-threaded daemon, a command line scanner and advanced tool for automatic database updates. Because ClamAV's main use is on file/mail servers for Windows desktops it primarily detects Windows viruses and malware.

## Installation

ClamAV can be installed with package clamav.

## Starting the daemon

The service is called `clamd.service`. Read Daemons for more information about starting it and enabling it to start at boot.

## Updating database

Update the virus definitions with:

    # freshclam

The database files are saved in:

    /var/lib/clamav/daily.cvd
    /var/lib/clamav/main.cvd

The virus definition updater service is called `freshclamd.service`. Consider starting it and enabling it to start at boot so that the virus definitions are kept recent.

## Testing the software

In order to make sure ClamAV and the definitions are installed correctly, scan the EICAR test file (a harmless signature with no virus code) with clamscan.

    $ wget -O- http://www.eicar.org/download/eicar.com.txt | clamscan -

The output must include:

    stdin: Eicar-Test-Signature FOUND

Otherwise; read the Troubleshooting part or ask for help in the Arch Forums.

## Scan for viruses

`clamscan` can be used to scan certain files, home directory, or an entire system:

    $ clamscan myfile
    $ clamscan --recursive=yes --infected /home # or -r -i
    $ clamscan --recursive=yes --infected --exclude-dir='^/sys|^/proc|^/dev|^/lib|^/bin|^/sbin' /

If you would like `clamscan` to remove the infected file add to the command the `--remove` option, or you can use `--move=/dir` to quarantine them.

Using the `-l /path/to/file` option will print the `clamscan` logs to a text file for locating reported infections.

## Using the milter

Copy `/etc/clamav/clamav-milter.conf.sample` to `/etc/clamav/clamav-milter.conf` and adjust it to your needs. For example:

    /etc/clamav/clamav-milter.conf

    MilterSocket /run/clamav/clamav-milter.sock
    MilterSocketMode 660
    FixStaleSocket yes
    User clamav
    PidFile /run/clamav/clamav-milter.pid
    TemporaryDirectory /tmp
    ClamdSocket unix:/var/lib/clamav/clamd.sock
    LogSyslog yes
    LogInfected Basic

Create `/etc/systemd/system/clamav-milter.service`:

    /etc/systemd/system/clamav-milter.service

    [Unit]
    Description='ClamAV Milter'
    After=clamd.service

    [Service]
    Type=forking
    ExecStart=/usr/bin/clamav-milter --config-file /etc/clamav/clamav-milter.conf

    [Install]
    WantedBy=multi-user.target

Enable and start the service.

## Troubleshooting

### Error: Clamd was NOT notified

If you get the following messages after running freshclam:

    WARNING: Clamd was NOT notified: Cannot connect to clamd through
    /var/lib/clamav/clamd.sock connect(): No such file or directory

Add a sock file for ClamAV:

    # touch /var/lib/clamav/clamd.sock
    # chown clamav:clamav /var/lib/clamav/clamd.sock

Then, edit `/etc/clamav/clamd.conf` - uncomment this line:

    LocalSocket /var/lib/clamav/clamd.sock

Save the file and restart the daemon

### Error: No supported database files found

If you get the next error when starting the daemon:

    LibClamAV Error: cli_loaddb(): No supported database files found
    in /var/lib/clamav ERROR: Not supported data format

This happens because of mismatch between `/etc/freshclam.conf` setting `DatabaseDirectory` and `/etc/clamd.conf` setting `DatabaseDirectory`. `/etc/freshclam.conf` pointing to `/var/lib/clamav`, but `/etc/clamd.conf` (default directory) pointing to `/usr/share/clamav`, or other directory. Edit in `/etc/clamd.conf` and replace with the same DatabaseDirectory like in `/etc/freshclam.conf`. After that clamav will start up succesfully.

### Error: Can't create temporary directory

If you get the following error, along with a 'HINT' containing a UID and a GID number:

    # can't create temporary directory

Correct permissions:

    # chown UID:GID /var/lib/clamav & chmod 755 /var/lib/clamav

Category:

- Security