Bernard wrote:
What virus scanners or other security tools such as firewalls etc do people
use (if any) with linux?
Ta
Bernard
On Ubuntu desktop, if you enable all the extra repositories for
Synaptic, you can Search for 'Firestarter':
c500KB package, easily installed & configured (wizard), manages Internet
connecton sharing to other machines perfectly (by iptable rules), alerts
you to Events "Connections Blocked", can be set to dis/allow ping/pong &
all ICMP (incl DoS), provides sufficient sense of security & I wouldn't
be without it.
Have never used any Anti-V on Linux tho, nor seen evidence that I needed
to. That distro reinstall you're worried about is your friend, because
you'll ditch your entire installed O/S (rather than upgrade - as per
Jim's advice), every 6 months/release.
Rootkits are the biggest fear, so one day I'll start using the
chkrootkit package if I'm alerted to such need:
"Checks for signs of rootkits on the local system
chkrootkit identifies whether the target computer is infected with a
rootkit.
Some of the rootkits that chkrootkit identifies are:
1. lrk3, lrk4, lrk5, lrk6 (and some variants);
2. Solaris rootkit;
3. FreeBSD rootkit;
4. t0rn (including latest variant);
5. Ambient's Rootkit for Linux (ARK);
6. Ramen Worm;
7. rh[67]-shaper;
8. RSHA;
9. Romanian rootkit;
10. RK17;
11. Lion Worm;
12. Adore Worm.
Please note that this is not a definitive test, it does not ensure that the
target has not been cracked. In addition to running chkrootkit, one should
perform more specific tests."
[1.7MB, downloading now..]
So there's still a bit more to it, in our 'newbie' situation. But
basically we're not of sufficient economic worth - as all NZ - to
attract serious breaches. You'd be pretty unlucky to suffer compromise.
Wiser heads may warn further tho.
hth,
--
Rik Tindall, InfoHelp Services <http://www.infohelp.co.nz>, on:
Ubuntu GNU/Linux 5.10 free OS, 2.6.12-9-k7 kernel, GNOME 2.12.1 desktop
OpenOffice.org 1.9.129, Mozilla 1.7.12 email client & web browser
GIMP 2.2.8 graphics, gedit 2.12.1 web editor, gFTP 2.0.18 file transfer
