ClamTk is an open source desktop application that provides users with a graphical front-end for the well known Clam AntiVirus virus scanner application that runs on Linux-based operating systems.
Getting started with ClamTk
Its user interface is divided in four sections, Configuration, History, Updates and Analysis. Each of these includes two or more entries that allow users to scan files and folders, update the virus database, etc.
Before running a virus scan against a directory or a specific file, you should update the virus signatures database using the Update function from the Updates section. In addition, you can use the Update Assistant entry to choose if you want to receive updates automatically or manually update them.
To scan a specific file or directory, you should use the “Scan a file” and “Scan a directory” entries from the Analysis section. Furthermore, the Analysis function will allow you to recheck the reputation of certain files, as well as to view or delete previous results.
The History section will allow users to view previous scan operations and the quarantined files, in case they intend to restore some of them that they think are clean. The program also provides users with a Whitelist function for adding folders and files that won’t be scanned, and a scan scheduler.
ClamTk can scan directories recursively, scan for potentially unwanted applications, scan files larger than 20MB, as well as to scan hidden files. It is one of the best GUI front-ends for the Clam AntiVirus software.
Supported OSes and availability
The application has been designed to be easy-to-use for novices who want to scan their secure Linux distributions for viruses and other malware. It offers an on-demand virus scanner that works on several Linux OSes.
It is distributed as a universal source archive, as well as specific binary files for the Debian, Ubuntu, PCLinuxOS, Arch Linux, openSUSE, Red Hat, Fedora, Mandriva, Gentoo, CentOS, ALT Linux, and FreeBSD operating systems.
