Chapter 1. Security Threats to Linux

PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN LINUX want to believe that their operating system is inherently more secure. Linux does have advantages because fewer viruses, worms, and other malware are written for Linux. But there are some juicy targets installed on many Linux systems. For example, Linux is a common platform for relatively insecure file-sharing servers such as the Network File System (NFS) and Samba. In addition, many Linux users still prefer connecting to remote systems with clear-text protocols such as Telnet.

The fact is, risks abound with Linux:

  • It's easy to boot fully functional Linux operating systems from a CD drive or a universal serial bus (USB) key, bypassing the access control settings of the operating system ...

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