Securing UNIX Systems: Basic Guidelines

UNIX systems were created to use the network, but that doesn't mean that the network is a safe place for them to be. UNIX systems are capable of running a wide array of network services, and because of this, are vulnerable to a large number of attacks and exploits.

This document provides some general guidelines on how to keep your UNIX system safe from harm. It is not exhaustive, and is not a "how to" guide. Because UNIX is available in so many flavors and colors, it is not reasonable to create a single "how to" web page. We recommend "Practical UNIX & Internet Security" and "Computer Security Basics", both available from O'Reilly's Security Section.

The following is a list of concerns for UNIX system security:

• Security Updates
• Account and Password Security
• Network Services
• Tripwire
• Log Files

Last Updated:  May 26, 2004