Maximum Linux Security (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

~ John Ray (Author), Anonymous (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

As we've all become well aware lately, every complex system has flaws. When the complex system is a computer operating system, such as Linux, or a piece of software running under it, those flaws can provide black-hat hackers with the access they need to steal your data, damage your system, or use your computing resources as a base for attacking other computers. Maximum Linux Security reveals security holes in Linux and does so explicitly. You can follow instructions in this book and break into unsecured Linux machines in a variety of ways. The newest edition of this book includes newer information about Linux security exploits and updated links to information and tools.

The anonymous author of this book has done a fine job of recognizing that his readers, despite the fact that they're probably pretty accomplished power users just because they're messing around with Linux, aren't really experienced with Linux or with computer security. He's careful to explain his subjects precisely. For example, he goes to considerable effort to explain how to set up user accounts properly (with emphasis on preventing obvious security holes), in addition to documenting offensive and defensive weapons like SAINT and Crack. Most entries on software include URL references to the latest versions, as well as cross-references to related programs. --David Wall

Topics covered: Good Linux security practice, as well as specific malicious software packages and ways to defend against them.

Product Description

Linux continues to gain acceptance as a high-level operating system that's ready for serious corporate enterprise-level computing. When running Internet or file servers, Linux is more reliable, more flexible, more cost-effective, and even faster in some cases than Windows 2000/NT. This means that more and more companies are running Linux on their Web and internal file servers, and that more and more network administrators, used to how things work on Windows 2000/NT servers, will need a crash course on the vulnerabilities of Linux systems, and which holes they're going to need to plug in order to protect themselves from outside attacks. Maximum Linux Security, Second Edition fills this need.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 896 pages
• Publisher: Sams; 2nd edition (June 21, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0672321343
• ISBN-13: 978-0672321344
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #986,781 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #43 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Security & Encryption > Linux Security
  #99 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Operating Systems > Linux > Networking & System Administration

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good overall, March 24, 2000

By	R. M. Delckum (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Maximum Linux Security: A Hacker's Guide to Protecting Your Linux Server and Workstation (Paperback)

I'm still finishing up this book, but have found it to be a good, general introduction to Linux security. It does a good job of showing examples, as well as showing how to secure your system step by step. I only have two minor complaints, both of which aren't specific to this book. First, several of the urls that the author points to no longer exist. Instead of pointing to web pages, which have a very limited lifespan, it might have been better to put the text/pages in question on the CD. Second, some of the software versions listed in the book are out of date. For example, I have SSH2 installed, but the book only mentions SSH. But again, this is a common problem with computer books in general. Overall, I found it to be a good, thorough introduction to Linux security as well as a practical guide to securing a Linux system. I have 4 machines running Red Hat and have followed most of the suggestions in this book for trying to secure them.

And for Linux folks, I'd also recommend the book Linux Firewalls, by Robert Ziegler, if you want to get deeper into securing your system/network.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Are you sure Sams.net is responsible for this?, June 8, 2000

By	Jeffrey Few (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Maximum Linux Security: A Hacker's Guide to Protecting Your Linux Server and Workstation (Paperback)

I haven't read any books on computer security before this one, so I can't say whether or not this is the authoritative title on the subject of Linux security. I will say that I have read quite a few books on Linux in general (Linux in a Nutshell, Running Linux, etc.) and this is the best Linux book I have read so far. It taught me more about Linux system administration than any website, man page, or other book I've looked at, despite its focus on security.

Aside from the excellent pointers it gave on properly administering your Linux workstation or server, it was a very fun, informative read.

Mr. Anonymous is a lively technical writer, and downright funny to boot. On biometric access controls, he/she writes: "I hope you're not using your computers for illegal activity. But if you are, you may want to avoid using biometric access controls, or at least not keep logs. Nothing will kill a good clean hack like incontrovertible logs."

In short, buy this if you want to get up to speed on Linux system administration in a hurry and you're already comfortable with *nix.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply The Best, January 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Maximum Linux Security: A Hacker's Guide to Protecting Your Linux Server and Workstation (Paperback)

I have spent the last six months researching Linux security and related books to apply some of the techniques on my Linux box. This was by far the most complete of anything I have found. It is well worth the price to find all this information in one complete selection. Hats off to the author it is well worth it