I just installed the Catweasel last weekend in my EMachine. Works great. I'm not sure I'd switch to Linux just so I could avoid viruses, McAfee seems to be doing the job, but I believe there is a Linux driver at the Individual Computers website:
www.ami.gaI didn't fully realize that, with the CW in place, you could read/write Amiga formatted disks directly under emulation. Do a search for Catweasel in the forums for the instructions on how to set it up. Very cool tech, as usual from Individual!
Bob