Forrest logo
back to the freshclam tool

freshclam:tldr:14451

freshclam: Update virus definitions.
$ freshclam
try on your machine

The "freshclam" command is used in Linux to update the virus database of the ClamAV antivirus software. ClamAV is an open-source antivirus engine designed to detect and remove malicious software, including viruses, trojans, and other threats.

When the "freshclam" command is executed, it connects to the ClamAV database servers over the internet and checks for updates to the virus definitions. Virus definitions contain information about known malware and are essential for the antivirus software to accurately identify and remove threats.

By running "freshclam," users ensure that their local installation of ClamAV has the most up-to-date virus definitions, enabling the software to provide effective protection against the latest malware threats. The command will download and install any available updates for the virus database, keeping it current and improving the antivirus software's efficiency and accuracy.

This explanation was created by an AI. In most cases those are correct. But please always be careful and never run a command you are not sure if it is safe.
back to the freshclam tool