Essential Security Practices for Ubuntu and Kubuntu Systems

Security is an important issue in computing. Unfortunately, many computers allow a cracker to gain access to them and retrieve sensitive information, or just make life hard. This article will review the basics in general security and explain how to apply it to two Linux distributions--Ubuntu and Kubuntu. This article assumes that you know how to install programs on either Ubuntu or Kubuntu. It also assumes that you have some knowledge of basic computer networking principles. If you do not know how to install programs on Ubuntu, go to If you do not know much about networking, go to http://www.faqs.org/docs/linux_network/x-087-2-intro.html. This article also assumes that you are using Ubuntu or Kubuntu 6.06(Dapper Drake), but the Firewall section can be adapted for any recent Linux distribution.

A program is only secure if it has no vulnerabilities. Even the most popular software can have a hidden one. When someone fixes the vulnerability,a new version of the program is usually released. Both Ubuntu and Kubuntu have software repositories dedicated to security updates.When a vulnerability is fixed, a package of the program is released so that you can download it. Ubuntu and Kubuntu usually enable some of their security update repositories by default, but it is always a good idea to check to see if all of them are enabled. You may also want to specify how often you want your computer to look for security updates--and even install them--while you're at it (for Ubuntu 6.06only). If you are using Ubuntu, click on System -- Administration --Software Properties and click on the Installation Mediatab. Now scroll down until you see a repository with the wordSecurity in it. Make sure that it is checked. If it is not,click on the check box to enable it.

The link for this article located at Linux Forums is no longer available.