Tag Archive for 'security'

How to Secure Linux laptops for maximum security

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by
Linewbie.com
on January 14, 2008
in desktop & laptop pc, linux.com and security
. 0 Comments

Laptop and notebooks are being stolen at an ever-increasing rate. In 2004, Safeware Insurance which sells computer insurance, estimated 600,000 laptop and notebooks a year were being stolen. In 2006 an estimated 750,000 were being swiped, according to Absolute Software a company that makes computer tracking products — and does not support Linux. LoJack For Laptops, another computer tracing company — which also does not support Linux — says FBI statistics show 2 million laptop and notebook computers were stolen in the US in a recent year. While the figures may not agree in detail, they all show that laptop and notebook theft is a major problem — and if you’re not careful, your Linux laptop might be next.

While you can find dozens of products to secure Windows laptops, security products for Linux laptops are scarcer — but they do exist. We found a range of products and fixes ranging from security patches for the operating system to encryption to the equivalent of computer bicycle locks which can help keep your Linux laptop or notebook safe.

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Howto - Securing Joomla! installations

Published
by
Linewbie.com
on January 3, 2008
in applications/software, cms/portals, guides, how to and security
. 0 Comments

Joomla! is a well-known content management system, mature enough to be used by thousands of amateur and professional Web portals. Installation is a breeze and consists of six click-next steps. However, a default Joomla! installation is not necessarily a secure one, so let’s see how we can protect our portal from potential attackers.

The first rule of security when it comes to Joomla! is “update frequently,” because whenever a new version comes out, it usually comprises several user-reported bug and security fixes. If your host allows it, use PHP5 instead of PHP4, because it’s more advanced and offers better security.

Once your site is ready to be launched, make sure to set your configuration.php file to read-only — a critical step that most users neglect. Change file and directory permissions — chmod 644 for files and chmod 755 for folders — but be sure to keep temporary and cache directories writable, lest you get a site error.

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