Re: Wanting To Try FreeBSD: Security Question.
- From: Giorgos Keramidas <keramida@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 04 Apr 2006 14:58:28 +0300
Metal Head <MetalHead@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
I've used Linux for a couple of years, the Linux that i've used
have a point and click firewall. Suse, Mandriva Fedora.
How hard is it to secure FreeBSD for a desktop computer? I've
been reading the handbook - the firewalls PF, IPFW & IPF look
complicated.
That depends on what the first impression is, I guess. I find pf.conf
many times more readable than an endless chain of iptables rule files
(which is usually the case in Linux).
The relatively minimal pf.conf file for the firewall I run on my laptop,
for example, is all in one file, one place, and includes only a short
set of (somewhat strict) packet-filtering rules:
% $ cat /etc/pf.conf
% # $RCS: giorgos/firewall/pf/gothmog.pf.conf,v 1.2 2005/06/07 16:57:52 giorgos Exp $
%
% set block-policy return
% set require-order yes
% set skip on lo0
%
% scrub in all
%
% block in log all
% block out log all
%
% pass in proto icmp all
% pass out proto icmp all
% pass out proto { tcp, udp } all keep state
% pass in proto { tcp, udp } from any to any port = 22 keep state
Now, compare this to the byzantine chains of chains of chains of rules
usually found on Linux installations, and you'll see that PF is not that
hard to configure after all :)
At least, not harder than your average Linux firewall of the
week/month/whatever.
From what I've read: you can enable IPFW in the kernel and ad
firewall_enable="YES" to rc.conf. & firewall_type="client" for
a standalone box. Will that be enough to secure a desktop?
No. A firewall is not the end of all your security needs. You will
also need policies in place, and a security-aware mindset. This is not
something provided by Linux or BSD though. You are the one who will
study and get informed about security, instead.
With Fedora I have SElinux enabled. I may be wrong, from what I
can tell: (MAC) or 'mandatory access control' does the same
thing as SElinux. How diffultict is it to set up (MAC) ?
Is there anything like this in FreeBSD?
Yes, MAC is similar to SElinux, in a way. It's also different in other
ways.
Are you sure you need MAC, in the first place? Are you prepared to
spend the time it takes to configure it properly? To what end?
============
ExecShield can also randomize the location where programs are loaded into
your computer's virtual memory. A hacker can exploit the knowledge of where
a program is loaded into your computer's memory. Linux loads programs at
fairly predictable locations, but ExecShield mostly fixes the problem.
Nice trick, but I don't really think this feature is available on FreeBSD.
Also, what about FreeBSD Jails... ? Do you have to jail all damons?
I'm reading up on jails now, this also looks complicated.
Yes and no. The answer depends on what you are trying to accomplish and
how much time you are prepared to spend to secure this particular
system.
No, jails are not complicated. You just have to let some of the
information sink through. Also make sure you ask specific questions
about the aspects of jails that seem confusing to you. Knowledgeable
people are always available on this newsgroup and on the
freebsd-questions mailing list to help you get started with jails.
Basically, I want to make sure I'm able to secure the system
before I install.
'security' is not an easy thing to define. I say give it a try and ask
about the specific things you want to 'secure' as you find them.
The BSDs are pretty well 'secured' from common bugs and mis-features of
other systems, even in a clean, default installation. You can always
tweak and configure and manage those parts of the general system
security that you need to change later on.
Good luck with your installation, if you do decide that giving FreeBSD a
try is worth your time.
It was definitely worth mine :)
- Giorgos
.
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