[ubuntu-uk] Software choices

[Toby Smithe]

On Thu, 2006-12-28 at 15:43 +0000, baza wrote:
> On Thu, 2006-12-28 at 15:14 +0000, Dave Briggs wrote: 
> > 1) Do I need to install any anti-virus/malware or firewall software on
> > Ubuntu?
> > 
> 
> Hi, you don't really need a anti virus, but a firewall is always a good
> idea.

If you don't need an anti-virus, then it follows that by default Ubuntu
doesn't need a firewall either.

Firewalls are used to block incoming and/or outgoing network traffic.
Ubuntu doesn't have any services open by default, so the only traffic
should be solicited: ie, that you've initiated yourself (for example web
browsing).

Viruses often open ports, creating holes which do need blocking by the
firewall, but - as you do not need an anti-virus - you shouldn't need a
firewall to block this traffic (which you do not have).

Thus, Ubuntu doesn't - by default - need a firewall.

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