Linux Server Security

By Michael D. Bauer

Book Overview

Linux consistently appears high up in the list of popular Internet servers, whether it's for the Web, anonymous FTP, or general services such as DNS and delivering mail. But security is the foremost concern of anyone providing such a service. Any server experiences casual probe attempts dozens of time a day, and serious break-in attempts with some frequency as well. This highly regarded book, originally titled Building Secure Servers with Linux, combines practical advice with a firm knowledge of the technical tools needed to ensure security. The book focuses on the most common use of Linux--as a hub offering services to an organization or the Internet--and shows readers how to harden their hosts against attacks. An all-inclusive resource for Linux users who wish to harden their systems, Linux Server Security covers general security such as intrusion detection and firewalling a hub, as well as key services such as DNS, the Apache Web server, mail, and secure shell. Author Michael D. Bauer, a security consultant, network architect, and lead author of the popular Paranoid Penguin column in the Linux Journal, carefully outlines the security risks, defines precautions that can minimize those risks, and offers recipes for robust security. He is joined on several chapters by administrator and developer Bill Lubanovic. A number of new security topics have been added for this edition, including: Database security, with a focus on MySQL Using OpenLDAP for authentication An introduction to email encryption The Cyrus IMAP service, a popular mail delivery agent The vsftpd FTP server Geared toward Linux users with little security expertise, the author explains security concepts and techniques in clear language, beginning with the fundamentals. Linux Server Security with Linux provides a unique balance of "big picture" principles that transcend specific software packages and version numbers, and very clear procedures on securing some of those software packages on several popular distributions. With this book in hand, you'll have both the expertise and the tools to comprehensively secure your Linux system.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0596006705
• ISBN13: 9780596006709
• Release Date: February 2005
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media
• Length: 522 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.9" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

For sys admins

Linux Server Security, Second Edition By Michael D. Bauer Second Edition January 2005 ISBN: 0-596-00670-5 544 pages, $44.95 US (...) This book goes along with the moving trend of the normal computer user, securing your data. Servers generally are targeted more often than the average home PC because most are made to be accessible from the outside world. This is where securing that server comes into play. This book covers the...

Great Reference for New Server Admins

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is involved with securing Internet servers. The book strikes a nice balance between theoretical background and implementation examples. Though certainly not all encompassing, the book touches on several key elements of server security, including DNS, Email, File Servers, Web Services, IDS methods and more. People new or just curious about Linux server security will gain the...

Very helpful

I am quite happy that there are books like Linux Server Security. A lot of people think Linux is bullet proof, but its not. If not configured correctly, it can be just as insecure as Windows. Linux Server Security is an important and timely book in that it shows how to harden Linux to be very secure.

Good Coverage of the General Rules

It used to be that Linux was so much safer than Windows because of the sheer number of people out attacking Windows. But now there several reasons for the bad guys to attack Linux: 73 (or so) of the web servers run Linux, more than that run DNS or mail, these tend to be powerful boxes with big communications pipes - just what the Spammers need. As the book says it's futile to expect perfect security unless you turn off...

Solid, but perhaps too broad

This is a somewhat high level walkthrough of all Linux related security issues, from basic networking and operating system issues, to web server configuration and scripting language security. At about 500 pages that's a tight squeeze, even for O'Reilly. Some of the coverage suffers, specifically I found the security information on PHP to be very scanty given the popularity of the language and how often web applications that...