How to Install ClamAV on VPS or Dedicated Servers?

ClamAV is a solid tool to scan your server for malware, viruses and unwanted scripts without spending anything. It is completely free and open-source.

So, if you are running your own website or managing a few client projects on a VPS or a dedicated server, it checks your server’s files and folders and alerts you if anything dangerous pops up. Also, it runs smoothly without slowing things down. This is helpful if you are handling more than one website on the same server.

This article will discuss installing and scanning your VPS or dedicated server with ClamAV.

Step to Get ClamAV Installed on Your Server

The whole process happens through WHM – the main control panel for managing your server. First thing you need to do is log in using your root access. Only root users can perform this task.

Then, scroll through the options and open the cPanel settings section. Inside that, you will see the ‘Manage Plugins’ option. Here, you can install additional tools and features on your server.

Inside the plugin area, you will see different tools available. Just find the ClamAV plugin and hit the install button that says “Install ClamAV for cPanel”.

Next, the system will begin downloading and installing the antivirus plugin. You don’t have to do anything else while it installs. Just wait a few moments. Once the installation is complete, you will see a confirmation message saying ClamAV has been installed successfully.

Steps to Make ClamAV Active for All Users

The next step after installation is to make sure ClamAV is available for your users. You can do this with the Feature Manager option inside WHM. It allows you to enable or disable tools in cPanel.

So, go to the Packages section of WHM and then to the Feature Manager option. Open it, and you will further see an option to Edit a Feature List.

In the dropdown, you can select which list to edit. If you are unsure, just pick the default list.

Once the list opens up, search for a setting called Virus Scanner. Tick the checkbox next to it. This will activate the ClamAV feature for all cPanel users under that package. Then hit Save to confirm your changes. Without saving, the tool won’t show up for your users.

Start Scanning with ClamAV

You can now access ClamAV from your cPanel dashboard under the Advanced section. There, you will find the Virus Scanner tool. This is where you can run your scans and check files.

There are different ways to scan your server. If you want a full scan, you can choose the Scan Entire Home Directory option. This checks every file in the user’s directory. Just remember that this scan uses more server power, so try to run it when traffic is low or your server is idle.

Get a faster scan with the Quick Scan option. It checks only selected areas and doesn’t take much time or load your server too much. It is useful when you only want to do a quick health check.

Running these scans regularly can help you catch malware before it causes any trouble. By taking these simple steps, you are actually building a stronger defence system for your website and data.