[Techtalk] Brand New Install - Firewall thoughts?

[Carla Schroder]

On Friday 17 October 2003 4:12 pm, P Casper wrote:
> I've just replaced my Mandrake system with a Debian Woody system running
> kernel 2.4.18
>
> I haven't finished setting up my internet connection, but I'm trying to
> address some security before I even complete that, or at least roughly at
> the same time.
>
> Reading through a basic security HOWTO, which covers some basics about
> iptables...
>
> Question is:  should I be setting up iptables from scratch, should I expect
> to use iptables, but use another front-end program or webpage to set it up,
> or should I be looking at a completly different firewall.
>
> I have a stand-alone system running off of dial-up, so I don't expect much
> traffic. Still, better safe than sorry, right?
>
> --Poppy

Oh yes, you need a firewall.  :) iptables can drive you to drink, it's not 
something you can learn in a hurry. Unless you are already a TCP/IP deity, in 
which case it will be easy.

I suggest using Bastille. Bastille is nice, as it teaches things while you're 
setting it up. Also there is Guarddog, which runs on KDE. it provides a nice 
GUI, but you learn nothing. There's no point in being macha, get something up 
and running, and study iptables as you can. 

Here's the Securing Debian Manual: 
ttp://www.linuxsecurity.com/docs/harden-doc/html/securing-debian-howto/

-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Carla Schroder
www.tuxcomputing.com
this message brought to you
by Libranet 2.8 and Kmail
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~