There's this somewhat weird idea that Linux is more secure than its much more popular counterparts, namely Windows and macOS. Being a Linux user myself, there's absolutely nothing I would love more, but this sadly, is not true.

Now, let's be clear, I'm no security/cybersecurity expert, but I really believe that you can get viruses and malware attacks on pretty much any operating system. The whole topic of discussion is, surely, immense, but let me just say this.

Yes, it's true that Linux is a very small fish in a very big pond when it comes to market share (hence, it's usually not advantageous for wrongdoers to create specific Linux malware), and yes, it's true that Linux is designed to limit user permissions by default (which can be an advantage).

In effect, what I'm saying is that an OS is only as secure as the person using it makes it (through healthy security practices).

That said, if you're in the unfavorable position of having your Linux computer compromised by malware, then can should try a bunch of malware removal tools (if a clean install is not an option).

As its name clearly states, Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool is one such app. According to its official website, it's "a free application for scanning computers running a Linux operating system and disinfecting detected threats."

I have to be honest, I know this tool from a couple of years back when I was a Windows-exclusive user. And, again, to be honest, not much has changed. If it's your first time installing this tool on your Linux system, I wouldn't blame you for not trusting it (based on its looks, at least).

I mean, the GUI is old and outdated and it makes the whole tool seem unreliable. However, it's important to understand how this tool works. The app uses a built-in anti-virus database, but it also connects to Kaspersky Security Network to detect unwanted malware on your computer.

Its job is simply to scan your computer, detect malware, and try to remove it - that's all. Obviously, this is not a traditional anti-virus solution and it has nothing to do with prevention.

One of the best things about this app is that it doesn't require any installation. It's recommended that you close all active apps before running this tool. Once you've downloaded the app (kvrt.run), you must grant the execute permission.

Simply right-click the file to display the context menu, select Properties, and access the Permissions, Access rights, or Discretionary attributes. Select the "allow executing file as program" option or make the app executable using the Terminal (with the "chmod +x kvrt.run command").

All that's left is to run the application file, hit the "Start scan" button on the app's GUI, and hope everything is OK. For more details about this app, make sure to check out the official KVRT Help section.

Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool is one of those tools that I hope I never get to use in the future, however, it's worth knowing about its existence. Yes, the UI is monstrously outdated, but the when it comes to detecting malware and removal it should work decently well.

Think of Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool as a sort of tire repair kit for those unpleasant malware-related situations. It's an on-demand virus scanner and removal tool that's also available for Linux.