Help the Linux Newbie

[Soggys1stBrat]

Hello folks! I just recently aquired a new addition to my home network and to save some money and cut corners I decided to run it as a dedicated Linux workstation. After hours of grueling research I decided to go with Kubuntu 5.04(Ubuntu & KDE hybrid). As I am just getting into the Linux industry, can anyone out there suggest some free Internet security software that doesn't have huge data files (I only go 40 G to work with)?

 

[nweaver]

what type of security do you want? Firewall, IDS, network monitoring....

the best use for a linux box in a home network is as a nat firewall with iptables. My wife uses IE on XP (mostly patched) with it's f/w turned off, and no AV software (do monthly scans with online tools). In the last 1.5 years I've been setup this way, I have not had a single virus, and have had spyware problems (that were very small) 2 times.

 

[sourceninja]

well, you dont need antivirus, I'm a firm beleiver that a firewall should not be a workstation. But if you have to have it, install firestarter. Its a great manager to yoru firewall. That should be good enough for basic security. Just dont run any services you dont need to be running (web servers, etc)

 

[lucky9]

Firestarter or Guardog. When you can afford it, a good router.

 

[Soggys1stBrat]

Well the router I'm using now is a Motorolla WR850G. Do you think that will be good enough for firewall type protection? Basically I was just looking for some decent freeware AV for Linux systems in case I contract one while playing aroung on the net with it.

 

[nweaver]

don't "play around on the net" as root, and that's the best AV you can have

I would think a box (not workstation, but dedicated box) for firewall running IPTables will run circles around those SoHo routers, as far as flexibility and robustness goes.

 

[phisrow]

You don't really need AV on Linux boxes. Don't do anything stupid as root(in fact, don't do anything as root, unless you have good reason) and you are pretty much set. A firewall is good; but those are standard with Linux.

 

[Soggys1stBrat]

Hey thanks folks I appreciate it:thumbsup: