Arch Linux

suicideducky

Member

From: New Zealand

Registered: 2007-09-13

Posts: 57

Website

Getting to grips with security in Linux

Hey all,
so for a while I have had an interest in security within a Linux system and I would like to know more,
get down to securing up a box, penetration testing and really get knowledgeable about security related matters.

I have been using Linux for quite some time now, 5 years, 3 of them solid, I have mucked around with LFS a few times, Gentoo and ofcourse our good friend Archlinux. I have played with many other Linux systems but those last two are the ones I feel I really got to "know".

A few things within Linux I feel I do not know the best are the kernel, ALSA and security. The first two I have briefyly touched on when needed (patching, compiling, configuring etc.) but as for the last I have barely touched it (other than pubkey crypto and that kind of stuff).

I think it would be usefull to have a dedicated box running probably Archlinux and secure it up as much as humanly possible and then go all out on it, and I have two spare (see: old) laptops available for this purpose.

But before this is possible, I need to learn how. I have been programming in Python for a while now and am in the process of learning C++, also am studying for my Net+ and have touched base with Sec+ and some CEH before but I feel neither of them really prepare me for what I would like to do, that is get into Linux security specifically.

von_Wanderlust

Member

Registered: 2008-11-03

Posts: 67

Re: Getting to grips with security in Linux

In regards to locking your box(es) down, these two links are pretty good, especially the second one:
  http://www.cromwell-intl.com/security/l … ening.html
  http://www.auscert.org.au/5816

This is a list of other hardening howtos I found hidden in my bookmarks. Can't say I've been through them, but it might make for good reading:
  http://www.linux-sec.net/Harden/howto.gwif.html

Cheers,

quarkup

Member

From: Portugal

Registered: 2008-09-07

Posts: 497

Website

Re: Getting to grips with security in Linux

there is a great firewall/iptables topic in the wiki.

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If people do not believe that mathematics is simple, it is only because they do not realize how complicated life is.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.