Ubuntu

ubuntu security

Asked by Peter

In windows I used to be paranoid about security with firewall, antivirus, antispyware and noscript addon to firefox.

Is it necessary to have noscript in ubuntu for security purposes?

Also in windows my firewall could be set to block applications ( such as all windows applications) or each time ask for internet access (such as updating antivirus and spyware applications) or have free reign (such as firefox and thunderbird). In ubuntu I am using firestarter which has my computer running in stealth mode (according to the sheildsup website test). How can I know what applications are accessing the internet and control what cant?

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Jim Hutchinson (jphutch) said : 		#1

Security is a kind of balancing act between having enough to be relatively secure and wasting resources. You made a good choice by choosing Ubuntu. Out of the box it is at least as secure as a Mac and maybe more so. In short, a default install has not open ports outside of those for web and such, there is a firewall built into the kernel (no real need for firestarter as it's just a pretty face for the built in iptables) and few viruses that can infect a Linux OS. So, in short, you don't need anything.

Now, if you want to start opening ports you should still be okay unless the apps you are using have security flaws. However, since you are using an open source OS those should get fixed quite fast. Also, there is almost no need to download and install questionable apps from the web as most everything you will need is maintained on secure servers run by the Ubuntu folks.

Noscript is probably not necessary but I don't think using it will hurt. Probably 99% of all bad scripts out there are designed to run on windows so I don't worry about it. In fact, I surf the web with impunity. I have no virus apps, no firewall (beyond iptables) and no anti spyware and after 18 months with Ubuntu I have yet to have a single problem. I have found windows viruses and such but they don't run. I get a popup and I've even tried to click but nothing happens.

My computer is stealth even without firestarter. I actually had it for a while but uninstalled it as it slowed down my internet for some reason. If you are behind a router you are pretty much protected anyway.

As for knowing what's doing what I wouldn't really worry about it. Only your web apps will be accessing the web so unless you installing something else there shouldn't be any cause to worry. There may be tools to monitor that but I've never really tried to find any.

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