Maldet, short for Linux Malware Detect, is an open-source malware scanner crafted to identify malicious software on Linux systems. Tailored to spot various threats, including rootkits, backdoors, worms, and trojans, Maldet is a potent tool for bolstering the security of your DirectAdmin server. This tutorial will guide you through installing Maldet on your DirectAdmin server.

Step 1: Dependency Installation
Before installing Maldet, it is crucial to confirm the presence of all required dependencies on the system. To achieve this, execute the following commands with root privileges:

yum install gcc make perl-Time-HiRes wget tar gzip unrar zip bzip2 lha arj p7zip -y;
yum groupinstall "Development Tools" -y;

Step 2: Download Maldet
Next, download Maldet from its official website using the wget command:

wget http://www.rfxn.com/downloads/maldetect-current.tar.gz;

Step 3: Extract & Install Maldet
Now extract the downloaded archive with the tar command followed by the installation process by running the below commands one after another in the same sequence, which also adds a cron job that turns Maldet on periodically:

tar xfz maldetect* && cd maldet*/ && ./installer ;cd /usr/local/maldetect ;./installdir ;./filescanner --update ;crontab -e 0 */6 * * * /usr/local/maldetect/filescanner --report > /dev/null 2>&1

Step 4: The Maldet Cron Job

This adds a cron job that runs every 6 hours and sends any reports generated directly into “null” so it doesn’t get emailed out or clutter up your inboxes with emails about potential infection attempts… The cronjob should look something like this when done correctly:

0 */6 * * * /usr/local//maldetscan –report > dev null 2>&1

This setting can be customized if desired, although it is not mandatory unless you prefer scans to occur more frequently than the default interval of once every six hours.

Step 5: Test Maldet
You can manually scan a directory using Maldet:

maldet -a /path/to/scan

Step 6: Configure Email Alerts (Optional):
If you want to receive email alerts, edit the configuration file:

nano /usr/local/maldetect/conf.maldet

Set email_alert to 1 and configure other email settings.

Step 7: Restart DirectAdmin: Restart DirectAdmin to apply changes:

service directadmin restart

That’s it! Maldet is now installed and configured on your DirectAdmin server. Regularly monitor Maldet reports and take appropriate actions if any malware is detected.

Bear in mind that software versions and installation processes may evolve. With our Managed Server, you can relinquish these concerns, as our proficient System Administrators will handle the installations for you, ensuring they are always up to date.