How safe and secure is LiveCD?

Support and queries relating to third party Live CDs and DVD, VM images and other packaged distributions
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tamathumper
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Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2005 2:16 am
Location: NY, Saratoga
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How safe and secure is LiveCD?

Post by tamathumper »

I've read the "readmes" on the LiveCD, and I'm pretty sure I've reduced the user account to appropriate security and changed all the passwords... So how secure is this box otherwise?

When I install a new Windows box I put a software firewall like ZoneAlarm on it, and anti-spyware software and anti-virus software, etc. etc.

Is this LiveCD box running any kind of firewall (is that what shorewall is?) and do I even need antivirus or antispyware because I'm running Firefox?
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rdmelin
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Location: Ellensburg, WA USA

Post by rdmelin »

Well you have a good start if you have changed the passwords for user and root.

Yes Shorewall is a firewall, and in the Mandrake Control Center ("Configure Your Computer" in the menu or mcc from a command line) you will find a tool to configure it. You are pretty safe from spyware if you stick to Mandrake RPM for any additional software. There is also a tool in mcc to raise the security level by adjusting permissions and policies.

There is no need for antivirus software on linux at least up til now. It's unlikely to become a problem because the system is designed much differently than windows. It has internal safeguards that make writing a virus that would affect it much harder.

There have been some vulnerabilities in firefox, so if you are using it for general purpose browsing upgrading it would be a good idea. If you just use it to access zoneminder and a few other respectable sites (like this one) then it's probably OK as is. Did you resolve the problem with upgrading that you posted in another thread?
tamathumper
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Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2005 2:16 am
Location: NY, Saratoga
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Thanks

Post by tamathumper »

rdmelin, thank you for responding, and thanks for referring to my other thread!

In response, no I did not figure out exactly where to install Firefox, nor how to remove it from the LiveCD distro! I'm still learning...

I have a several-hundred page document to read called "Linux From Scratch" that will take me through compiling and installing and configuring the init process of my own Linux distro, so hopefully I'll know more about what I'm talking about after that, and I will be asking more serious questions :)
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