Running your programs in a jail with Firejail
The Jailer
Firejail enhances security by isolating programs and processes in separate jails and thus regulating access to the filesystem.
Malware frequently exploits vulnerabilities in the browser or background services. After breaking in, malicious programs manipulate configuration files, install rootkits, or exploit other programs. A software tool called Firejail prevents malware from taking over by locking away Firefox, Apache, or any other endangered program in a jail.
In this isolated jail, which is also called a sandbox, a program that has been compromised by malware won't be able to manipulate any important files and can only run wild in the confines of its own walls. If so desired, Firejail will regulate and manage the view of the filesystem and discard any files created by the programs. Unlike a virtual machine, which emulates a complete PC, the GUI and server applications, as well as demanding games with 3D acceleration, run at full power in the Firejail sandbox.
Building a Jail
On the Firejail homepage, you can get prebuilt packages for popular distributions: Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, openSUSE, CentOS 7, and RHEL 7 [1]. All of these packages require a 64-bit system. Arch Linux users will find Firejail in the AUR; packages for Slackware are available from the SlackBuilds repository [2].
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Dutch Government Turns to Open Source for Digital Sovereignty
Following in the footsteps of European countries, the Netherlands is looking to increase its sovereign digital infrastructure with open source software.
-
Linux May Soon Work on Snapdragon X2-Based PCs
If you're thinking about buying a Snapdragon X2-based desktop or laptop, Linux may soon be an option.
-
KDE for People Initiative Calls for AI Ban in Plasma
A new community of KDE wants the project to adopt a strict no-AI policy for KDE Plasma.
-
KDE Sets Ambitious Goals for 2026 and Beyond
KDE Connect reveals the goals for the Linux desktop darling, with one of those goals long overdue.
-
It’s Time to Test Fedora 45 Beta
Fedora 45 beta has been released with updated Gnome, KDE Plasma, and kernel.
-
Ubuntu Stonking Stingray Gets Even Rustier
Ubuntu 26.10 has completed its migration to the Rust-based coreutils.
-
AI Fixes Linux Bottlenecks Using “Hideous” Code
A Linux developer used AI to fix bottlenecks that caused problems when building the kernel. The resulting AI-generated code needed a lot of work.
-
Advanced Video Coding Still Under Patent
Brazilian patent BRPI0109962B1 has expired, which means that DivX and Xvid are no longer problematic for Linux, but it doesn’t mean that video is all of a sudden fully unleashed.
-
2,000 Vulnerabilities per Linux Release
Thanks to AI bug hunters, the Linux kernel is seeing record numbers of vulnerabilities, and it's overwhelming developers.
-
Linux Exempt from California’s Age Verification Law
So long as Linux is distributed under the GPL, MIT, BSD, and Apache licenses, the OS is exempt from being required to verify the age of its users in California.