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
-
Nitrux 6.0 Now Ready to Rock Your World
The latest iteration of the Debian-based distribution includes all kinds of newness.
-
Linux Foundation Reports that Open Source Delivers Better ROI
In a report that may surprise no one in the Linux community, the Linux Foundation found that businesses are finding a 5X return on investment with open source software.
-
Keep Android Open
Google has announced that, soon, anyone looking to develop Android apps will have to first register centrally with Google.
-
Kernel 7.0 Now in Testing
Linus Torvalds has announced the first Release Candidate (RC) for the 7.x kernel is available for those who want to test it.
-
Introducing matrixOS, an Immutable Gentoo-Based Linux Distro
It was only a matter of time before a developer decided one of the most challenging Linux distributions needed to be immutable.
-
Chaos Comes to KDE in KaOS
KaOS devs are making a major change to the distribution, and it all comes down to one system.
-
New Linux Botnet Discovered
The SSHStalker botnet uses IRC C2 to control systems via legacy Linux kernel exploits.
-
The Next Linux Kernel Turns 7.0
Linus Torvalds has announced that after Linux kernel 6.19, we'll finally reach the 7.0 iteration stage.
-
Linux From Scratch Drops SysVinit Support
LFS will no longer support SysVinit.
-
LibreOffice 26.2 Now Available
With new features, improvements, and bug fixes, LibreOffice 26.2 delivers a modern, polished office suite without compromise.
