Closure of a previous question and new questions on system security apps...

[Brian Lunergan]

Jeffrey F. Bloss wrote:
> It really is a completely different world, not perfect by any stretch,
> but it does mean that if you're serious about staying secure you have
> to adapt to a new set of rules and procedures. :)

Believe it or not I do understand that I'm venturing into a different territory 
and some things (not necessarily all, but some) will have to change and adapt 
how I think of computing as I learn more about how to work well with Linux. I do 
thank both you and Constantine for some very useful ideas and suggestions. 
Slowly but surely I will give consideration to them all and make use of what 
fits the reshaped computing me.

Which tools get picked may be a function of those that have a graphic front end 
to them. I've worked in both command line and graphic environments (punch card 
and batch processing before that) but my preference has turned to the graphic 
with less use of the keyboard and more of the rodent. Some of it is driven by 
developing disability issues limiting what I can do. So what may enter into a 
choice of solution is what might be available in scripting tools and other aids 
on Kde or Gnome. I fully expect there will come a point where, if cli is the 
only way for something to happen, I may just have to do without.

As to the anti-virus, the firewall, or even the anti-spam function... Do I think 
there are valid threats out there now to a Linux setup? No, I'm not that 
misinformed or paranoid. Do I think there will never be a need for such 
protection simply because Linux is what it is? No, I'm not so trusting as to 
believe such a threat will never occur simply because of the platform. At some 
point the 'dark forces' will turn their attention to the Linux and Mac platforms 
and will find the holes to come in by.

Until then I choose to set av and firewall as perimeter defences to deal with 
any windows based intrusion attempts, and select some of the stronger tools you 
and Constantine suggested to root out and deal with those that get through into 
where they are not wanted and not welcome. None of them may have very much to do 
for some time yet, but I'd rather have them in place to deal with that something 
when it arises.

-- 
Brian Lunergan
Nepean, Ontario
Canada


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