Securing Linux, Part 1: Introduction
By Mario Eberlein, Rene Auberger, Wolfram Andreas Richter2005-04-21
Linux System Security
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Linux is a modern, open source operating system that can be distributed and copied freely. Every user has the right to access and modify its source code, making it easy to customize Linux to your own environment, add new features to the operating system, find bugs and provide patches, and check the source code for security holes.
Although data security and system security can be considered separately, system security can have a major impact on data security. That is why Linux has a lot of integrated features that address the main security issues of confidentiality, integrity, and availability as well as system security itself. Among them are IP firewalling, authentication mechanisms, system logs and auditing, cryptographic protocols and APIs, kernel-level VPN support, and many more. Additionally, system security can be supported by (open source) software applications that offer secure services, harden and/or control the Linux system, prevent and detect intrusions, check system and data integrity, and provide barriers to different attacks.
One major factor with respect to security that differentiates Linux from closed source operating systems lies in the open source development process itself. Because every user and developer of software has access to its source code, many eyes are controlling and scanning the source code for possible security holes. Software flaws are detected promptly. On the one hand, this leads to early exploits; on the other hand, security patches are available quickly.
Tutorial Pages:
» A Consideration of What it Means to be Secure
» Security Defined
» Integrity
» Confidentiality
» Availability
» Linux System Security
» Next in the Series
» Resources
First published by IBM DeveloperWorks
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