Linux Security for Beginners

Author(s) : Neil A. Smyth
Publication Date : 2005

This book was suggested by Neil A. Smyth

Book excerpts :

There is a saying in the security world that the only truly safe computer system is one that is disconnected from the network, switched off and buried six feet under ground. The sentiment may be somewhat true but it is hardly a practical solution to the problems we face today in protecting servers and desktops from outside intrusion.

There are more computer systems connected to the internet either directly or via local area networks than at any time in the history of technology and the numbers are growing at a rapid rate. It seems that not a month goes by without another story in the news about the internal network of a major corporation being compromised by an intruder.

Fortunately all is not lost and we do not have to pull the network cables out of the back of our computer systems. With careful planning and system configuration it is quite possible to create a secure environment that will cause the hacker to move on to the next, easier target without rendering the entire system useless.

Why Linux ?

This book is designed to provide an overview of the steps needed to implement a secure environment on a Linux system and outlines some of the threats and how these weaknesses are exploited by what have come to be commonly called 'hackers'.

Linux users have some inherent advantages over their fellow Windows users when it comes to security. Linux is both more secure and less common than Windows based systems with the consequence that attacks on Linux systems occur less frequently than on Windows systems. Having said that it would be foolish to be complacent about securing any system regardless of whether it runs Windows, Linux or any other operating system.

The purpose of this book is to provide a step by step approach to securing a Linux system from outside attack. It is designed to be used and understood by both new and experienced Linux users.

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