Strategies For Securing Linux Systems By James Turnbull

Hardening Linux, by James Turnbull, stands out as an important text that clearly lays out how to make your Linux boxes as secure as possible. Mr. Turnbull has done a noteworthy job in delineating many potential vulnerabilities, and how to mitigate them. Each chapter covers a particular area in depth, with carefully worded and easy-to-follow examples. In the cases where you need to install some other piece of software to provide extra security, Turnbull gives you the step-by-step details, removing the chance of misinterpretation. As you finish each chapter, you will want to apply your newfound knowledge to the machines at your disposal.

Naturally, the strongest building will collapse if built on a weak foundation, so Turnbull starts by considering what you need to harden a stand-alone Linux host. He discusses what applications to install and how to secure the boot loader (both LILO and GRUB are covered). The init sequences and scripts are covered next, as well as the login screen. Information on securing users and groups using PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules) comes next, followed by package management and kernel patching. Finally, Turnbull finishes up with how to keep informed on security issues in the future. All of that is contained in chapter 1, and there are ten more to go! Each chapter ends with a list of resources in the form of mailing lists, web sites, books, etc., so you can fill in any blanks Turnbull may have left in.

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