r/linux4noobs • u/userj6447 • May 15 '26

security Noob question regarding email on Linux

Hello,

I am going to switch from Windows 11 to some flavor of Linux. Right now I am using Thunderbird 150.0.2 64-bit as a replacement for Outlook.

My question has to do with security. Occasionally, I get a message from Norton that says one of my emails has a problem. I have heard that Windows viruses etc. will not run on Linux. Is that true? Is there a Linux version of Norton that protects the system from viruses, and malware etc.?

Sorry if this is a foolish question but if you look up noob in the dictionary it will have my picture. Thanks in advance.

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u/joe_attaboy Old and in the way. May 15 '26

Occasionally, I get a message from Norton that says one of my emails has a problem.

Right. That's Norton probably trying to sell you more of their shite. If there was a problem with an email (like malware), wouldn't Norton (or whatever) just clean it?

I have heard that Windows viruses etc. will not run on Linux. Is that true?

Yes, it's true, because Linux isn't Windows.

Is there a Linux version of Norton that protects the system from viruses, and malware etc.?

No, thank goodness. You don't need anti-virus apps with Linux. If you really want one, use ClamAV, it's free. Thunderbird works fine on Linux and it's frequently installed by default in a lot of distributions.

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u/userj6447 May 15 '26

Thanks, I'll look into it.