Security with Linux?
 

Hey,

I'm wondering if linux is safer then windows when it comes to the usual security issues like trojans, virusses, malicious scripts and more of the same sort...


and if it is worth going through the effort of (trying ;)) to teach myself linux and everyhting else that I'll be needing like networking and anti virus/internet security - I have no experience whatsoever with linux or programming so it's starting from 0, and I'm a slow learner :^D - to use as internet server/firewall for the other (windows) pc's.

afaik there are very little linux viruses. i don't have a scanner on my PC's

linux is much more secure, after all linux IS all about security (server OS).
it's nice to surf the internet with linux: i don't have any worries. no viruses, no crappy webbrowsers plug-ins that install themselves, no spyware. after all you're usually logged in as a normal user, so you nor the crapware can't make any changes to the system :)

here ya go http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20040329/index.html

:)

Good to know :)

and thx for the link, that'll certainly come in handy, still need some hardware though. hard disk, maybe something else. I have to check, I got this old system (P1 I think, as I said, still have to check it out) for free, I hope it can cope with this mandrake 10
:^D

It won't. Unless you use a very lightweight desktop environment (or no GUI at all), you won't be able to run linux. System requirements of Gnome 2.x or KDE 3.x are similar to Windows XP.

LOL
if that's the case, they are being overly optimistic on the mandrake site:

Pentium and up
32mb (text only) 64mb min (GUI) 128mb or more recommended
...

Well, the memory statement is correct. But you'll need at least a P2 to get a heavy desktop environment working properly.

Linux is a good OS, it's not magic.

here's another link for ya: http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...129TX1K0000532

Hmm, I might of spoken too soon:

I don't even know if a linux internet server will keep me more safe because I don't know how a computer / OS handles internet sharing.

Let's assume I have a linux internet/network server.
How will the other computers connect to the internet? Let's say computer A has WinXP installed en uses Firefox to browse the web and it asks some information from the web.
Will the linux internet server search this information using it's own OS and web browser, or will the linux OS and webbrowser pretty much completely be byassed and is the trasfer of information more a matter of protocol?

Or more simply put: Will I be enjoying more safety if I use a linux internet server or won't I? :)

Depends how your network will be configured. If your modem is connected to the linux server, and the linux server to a switch with Windows PC's to share files/internet, than yes, your windows PC's will be safer.

If your (cable)modem is connected to a switch, wich is connected to both the Windows PC's as the linux server, than no, your Windows PC's will be as vernurable as before.

You could install Squid in the linux server, which acts as a Proxy server. Than configure your windows pc's use a proxy server and of you go. :)

Cool :)

Thx again, usefull info :super:

Now all I have to do is get the funds for a rig and get the linux magic to work ... oh oh :D


BTW, we got a sucky usb adsl modem (die groene pijlstaartrog-modelletjes) so can't connect it to a switch even if I wanted to :) waiting for this contract to end so we can switch to cable :)

if you want a router, try clarkconnect. redhad9 based distribution with nice web interface. I also used this in the beginning on my router: I had a great router by default, and I could toy with the software on it whenever I feeled like (setting up samba, ftp server, webserver). you can configure it either by web-interface or by SSH (commandline)

Teus, everything you just said is mombojombo to me :)

But I'll look this clarckconnect up after I have a rig and after I have linux running on it.. 1 step at a time ey :)

nonono. you install clarkconnect on the P1 and you're started :D

graphical system is not required to learn linux. if you're learing it, you can only use the GUI as eye-candy. some distros provide graphical configuration tools, but who needs those anyway

let me check if I get this:

clarckconnect is a program that sort of turns your pc into a router and it's based on red hat linux?


If so, that'd be awesome :super:

Don't have to spend money on a new rig and I can enjoy the safety of linux :)


Thx Teus :ws:

np :)

"Combines Features with Stability

ClarkConnect transforms standard PC hardware into a dedicated broadband gateway and easy-to-use server. The award-winning Linux-based solution includes firewall and security tools, along with file, print, web, e-mail, proxy, antivirus, antispam, content filtering and VPN servers. "