---
title: "How to Install ClamTK on Ubuntu"
description: "There are many ways to use the ClamAV command-line anti-virus scanner available for Unix, Windows, and macOS. There's of course the command-line application itself. There's also a ClamAV cPanel..."
url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/security/clamtk-ubuntu-clamav/
date: 2020-04-10
modified: 2021-08-16
author: "InMotion Hosting Contributor"
categories: ["Security"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# How to Install ClamTK on Ubuntu

[![ClamTK GUI for ClamAV](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/clamtk-main-300x294.png)](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/clamtk-main.png)

There are many ways to use the **ClamAV** command-line anti-virus scanner available for Unix, Windows, and macOS. There’s of course the command-line application itself. There’s also a [ClamAV cPanel plugin](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/cpanel/install-and-configure-clamav/) for [managed VPS](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/vps-hosting) and [dedicated server](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/dedicated-servers) customers.

And there’s [ClamTK](https://gitlab.com/dave_m/clamtk/-/wikis/Home), a graphical user interface (GUI) application for Linux and BSD desktop distributions. ClamTK allows users to easily scan, quarantine, and delete infected files, emails, and more **on your personal computer** without having to remember terminal commands or reference the `man clamscam ` manual.

Below we cover how to [install ClamTK on Ubuntu](#install) and [use ClamTK](#use).

## Install ClamTK on Ubuntu

[Linux Mint](https://linuxmint.com/) users, we recommend installing from the official website as the [unofficial repository for Mint](https://community.linuxmint.com/software/view/clamtk) may be out of date.

1. [Install ClamAV command-line application](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/security/install-clamav-on-ubuntu/)
2. Download the latest version of the deb file from [https://gitlab.com/dave_m/clamtk/-/wikis/Downloads](https://gitlab.com/dave_m/clamtk/-/wikis/Downloads)
3. Install the deb package in your terminal (replace VERSION with full file name): sudo dpkg -i Downloads/clamtk_VERSION.deb
4. Afterwards, you can open ClamTK from your terminal (`clamtk`) or desktop main menu

There are also [ClamTK add-ons](https://gitlab.com/dave_m/clamtk/-/wikis/Downloads#add-ons) for the XFCE, KDE, Nemo, and GNOME desktop environments (DEs).

## Use ClamTK in Ubuntu

Below we cover the most important settings you should know post-installation.

### Settings

Here you can decide whether ClamTK will scan potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), hidden files, files over 20 MB, directories recursively, and for updates.

### Whitelist

Exclude directories from scanning.

### Scheduler

Set when to **scan your home directory** and/or for new **antivirus signatures** with the 24-hour time (e.g. 6:00 PM becomes 18:00).

### History

View past scans and results.

### Quarantine

Restore or delete quarantined files marked as infected.

### Update

View what antivirus signature databases and individual signatures are installed.

### Update Assistant

Decide whether to receive updates automatically or manually in the terminal:

sudo freshclam

### Scan a file

Scan a single file

### Scan a directory

Scan a directory (and recursive directories if selected in your settings)

Looking for other desktop security software? Check out the [**Zenmap** nmap GUI application](https://nmap.org/zenmap/) to learn more about what information your web server freely shares.

Easily close unneeded ports with our scalable [Cloud Server Hosting](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/cloud-vps) and your preferred Linux distro – Ubuntu, Debian, or CentOS.