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The Must-Do's of Linux

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by wescrock

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So... I'm not very knowledgeable with Linux... I use it... because I know that someday it may come in handy (and my laptop is kind of a piece...) I am looking for the top (lets say) 15 things every person should do after the fresh install of a Linux distro on their computer... Any suggestions?

I'll Start:
1) Perform all updates

8 replies

by jaqui

after getting updates

2 make sure firewall is working
3 configutre spamassasin
4 doublecheck that clamav is starting up

now that the security stuff is done
5 to 10

configure your gui to suit yourself

by apotheon

SpamAssassin? Yeah, right. I wouldn't touch it. It's a blacklist-based spam blocking solution. While it's a very [b]good[/b] blacklist-based spam blocking solution, that's only in comparison to other blacklist-based solutions.

Blacklists are one of two things: ineffective because they don't block enough, or worse than ineffective because they're prone to false positives.

I won't touch SpamAssassin, thanks.

Here's my lineup:

1. Firewall
2. Integrity Checking
3. Rootkit Checking
4. Service Deactivation (if necessary)
5. Updates
6. Virus Checking (to protect my Windows friends)
7. Automated Backups
8-15. Server and/or Desktop Configuration

By contrast, my Windows approach:
1. Firewall
2. Antivirus
3. Updates
4. Firefox
5. Anti-Spyware
6. Service Deactivation (always necessary)
7. Desktop Process Deactivation
8. Integrity Checking
9. Rootkit Checking
10-20. Server and/or Desktop Configuration (fifteen isn't enough)

by jaqui

I only listed it as an example of something to do.

most people, on a personal system, don't need a non blacklist based anti spam tool.

by vercan

Spamassassin is NOT a blacklist only filter, it has both a blacklist and a whitelist, but its real function is that it scans the message, performing lots of tests, each one of them with a score value. If a test results positive, spamassassin adds up its score value. At the end, if the total sum exceeds a maximum limit, spamassassin tags the message as spam, so that your mail filter can eliminate it.

by apotheon

Since personal systems for home users are the most likely to receive email from people using ISP and web-based accounts, personal systems for home users are the people most likely to get false positives from blacklist-based anti-spam solutions. A better option is to use heuristic spam filtering, such as that provided by Mozilla Thunderbird.

by jaqui

blacklist the entire domain that the emails are coming from, automagically. ]:)

microsoft, yahoo, hotmail, netscape.... no more junk email then. ]:)

by xstep

And this depends on what distro your installing. Most leading distro's let you set your firewall during install (you'll tweek it latter).

1)Make sure all you harware works and make adjustments.

2)After install check for and install updates with your package installer. There may also be a kernel update. But note: you may loose hardware after you install a new kernel if you had to install a third party driver. Like madwifi or something. But, you can reboot to your last kernel so all is never lost.

3)Turn off all services and even uninstall apps/sevices you won't be using.

4)Check your firewall settings. install AV (for your windows friends)

5)Check for and install browser plugins and JRE. Also check your audio and video players for plugins.

6)Adjust your settings

7)Setup your home directory/folder(s)

8) do a back up.

This is basic for typical desktop use. I guess I could have spread my list and got 10. On Fedora or Slackware you would have a little more work to do.

Now you can scan and harden your system and automate tasks. The list grows with more services you turn on and use. Like file sharing or web services. For SOHO networks and up you should think about using another older computer with two nic's for a firewall/gateway.

I may have left something out but I think this is a good start and simple. Hope this helps

X

by apotheon

Any generic (as opposed to personalized) blacklist at all is typically a net lose. False positives are false positives, period.

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