[Skybird]

Note that in recent weeks, due to Kernel updates for Linux comign in the wake of Spectre and Meltdown, vritual machines like VR Box did not function or worked eratically. I do not know the current status, however.

Note that runnign Wine as emulator exposes the date storage on your hd to the same risks like any normal Windows installation. Your Linux installation may not be affected by it, but it carries Windows malware then and could spread this, also admage your data if you run Windows in a VR. If safety is of concern for you, do NOT use Wine.

That Linux is unotuchable for infecitons, is a modern myth. it is, it just doe snto get attacked as often, byfar not, than Windows or Apple OS or Android (which is a Linux "lcone", btw). Also, yourn Linux system could hlp to spread Windows-malware via data transportation fro your Linux system onto aWindows platform (stick, cloud, online link). As a matter of fact this happens all the time: most servers that service Windows-based users, are operated by Linux OS, so Linux servers pred Windows-ACTIVE MALWARE EVEN IF LiINUX SYSTEMs DO NOT GET AFFECTED BY IT.

You may want to use an AV therefore on Linux as well. It should be a package that does a reasonably well job both for Windows AND Linux OS. The problem is, there are not many good in both. Most such packages are good in Windows malware recongition and sub.medicore in Linux-recogntiion, or the other way around. The only test I know of was run 2 years ago, and in it ESET scored best with recognition rates above 95% in both categories. As high recongition rates as you get in dedicated Windoes AV suites, you will not find in any such combination packs.

Linux is relatively safe because it only shares less than 1.8% of the market for OS. That makes it unattractive to code malware for attacking Linux, when coding Windows or Apple or Android malware brings dozens of times as many computers into your reach. But it is there, and it is slowly growing in numbers. It reminds a bit of how it went with Android. Nobody in a sane state of mind today would still claim Android or Google Playstore is "safe".

Especially if you share data on your own computer devices (PC or notebook,l camera, smartphone, Linux and Windows systems, or wioth freinds, you should try to prevent that malware for Windows gets spread by your Linux system. You youlc infest your own data pools and not even notice it.

Again, the problem of malware targetting Linux statistically is much smaller, the bigger issue is that you may spread Windows-targetting malware via your Linux system.

Linux is statistically safer than Wjndows - and significantly so. But it is not untouchable, that is a myth that Linux-hardcore fans still preach to the world. Its just not true.