This week, perhaps the most interesting articles include "Quantum Cryptography is Hacked," "Do We Really Need a Security Industry," and "Rootsh terminal logger keeps watch on root users."

Vyatta: Open-Source Router / Firewall / VPN - Vyatta software and appliances combine the features, performance and reliability of an enterprise-class router and firewall with the cost savings and flexibility of open source solutions.

Free Vyatta Community Edition 2 Software & Live Demo Webinars

LinuxSecurity.com Feature Extras:

RFID with Bio-Smart Card in Linux - In this paper, we describe the integration of fingerprint template and RF smart card for clustered network, which is designed on Linux platform and Open source technology to obtain biometrics security. Combination of smart card and biometrics has achieved in two step authentication where smart card authentication is based on a Personal Identification Number (PIN) and the card holder is authenticated using the biometrics template stored in the smart card that is based on the fingerprint verification. The fingerprint verification has to be executed on central host server for security purposes. Protocol designed allows controlling entire parameters of smart security controller like PIN options, Reader delay, real-time clock, alarm option and cardholder access conditions.

pgp Key Signing Observations: Overlooked Social and Technical Considerations - While there are several sources of technical information on using pgp in general, and key signing in particular, this article emphasizes social aspects of key signing that are too often ignored, misleading or incorrect in the technical literature. There are also technical issues pointed out where I believe other documentation to be lacking. It is important to acknowledge and address social aspects in a system such as pgp, because the weakest link in the system is the human that is using it. The algorithms, protocols and applications used as part of a pgp system are relatively difficult to compromise or 'break', but the human user can often be easily fooled. Since the human is the weak link in this chain, attention must be paid to actions and decisions of that human; users must be aware of the pitfalls and know how to avoid them.

Bulletproof Virus Protection - Protect your network from costly security breaches with Guardian Digital’s multi-faceted security applications. More then just an email firewall, on demand and scheduled scanning detects and disinfects viruses found on the network. Click to find out more!

Take advantage of our Linux Security discussion list! This mailing list is for general security-related questions and comments. To subscribe send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with "subscribe" as the subject.

Earn an NSA recognized IA Masters Online - The NSA has designated Norwich University a center of Academic Excellence in Information Security. Our program offers unparalleled Infosec management education and the case study affords you unmatched consulting experience. Using interactive e-Learning technology, you can earn this esteemed degree, without disrupting your career or home life.

Security on your mind?

Protect your home and business networks with the free, community version of EnGarde Secure Linux. Don't rely only on a firewall to protect your network, because firewalls can be bypassed. EnGarde Secure Linux is a security-focused Linux distribution made to protect your users and their data.

Guardian Digital Makes Email Safe For Business - Microsoft 365, Goo....

Thank you for reading the LinuxSecurity.com weekly security newsletter. The purpose of this document is to provide our readers with a quick summary of each week's most relevant Linux security headline.

Quantum Cryptography is Hacked
30th, April, 2007

A team of researchers has, for the first time, hacked into a network protected by quantum encryption.

Quantum cryptography uses the laws of quantum mechanics to encode data securely. Most researchers consider such quantum networks to be nearly 100% uncrackable. But a group from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge was able to 'listen in' using a sort of quantum-mechanical wiretap. The trick allowed them to tease out about half of the data, in a way that couldn't be detected by those transmitting or receiving the message.

news/cryptography/quantum-cryptography-is-hacked
Hiding Inside a Rainbow
2nd, May, 2007

Steganography is the art of hiding messages so that uninitiated wouldn't suspect the presence of a message. A rainbow table is a huge binary file used for password cracking. This is the first in a series of posts on research I've done on how to hide data in rainbow tables, and how to detect its presence.

There are several steganography algorithms to hide data in pictures. They often involve changing the least-significant-bits of the numbers representing the color or another visual property of a pixel. This minute difference cannot be perceived by the naked eye, but it this there. The size of the data you can hide in a picture is limited by the size of the picture and by the numbers of bits involved in the steganography algorithm. It