Digital Self-Defense
Tutorials – Intrusion Protection
No computer security is perfect, so make sure you've got a second line of protection.
Let's take a look at two ways of making sure that, in the event of some bad guys (who may or may not work for a government) break into your machine, you find out they're there before they do any damage. The two methods differ in what they monitor: We'll use a host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS) to keep an eye on what's going on inside our machines, and we'll use a network intrusion detection system (NIDS) to try and detect suspicious traffic. Neither is fool-proof, but these two complementary systems can significantly increase your chances of staying safe.
OSSEC – the HIDS we'll use – is built from the ground up to monitor multiple computers in a network. Years ago that might have only been relevant for people working on enterprise IT, but these days most people have many devices connected to their home network, and with the Internet of Things starting to take off, the number of computing devices in the average home is only likely to increase. Tripwire (see "Tripwire" box for details) is another option that's a bit easier to set up but only really suitable for one machine at a time unless you buy the enterprise additions.
Before installing OSSEC, you'll need to decide which machine should be the master. If you have a home server that's on all the time, then this is ideal. However, even if it's a desktop that's only turned on periodically, this is still better than not having any protection.
[...]
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
-
The Bullet-Proof KDE Software Initiative Is Coming
KDE, Techpaladin, and Kubuntu Focus have announced a new initiative that will provide at least three years of support for KDE Plasma 6.6 LTS and related software.
-
Linux Mint Shares a Possible Kernel Cleanup Solution
For those on Linux Mint who like to keep multiple kernels around but don't want them to take up too much space, you might be getting a new automated tool.
-
CachyOS Gets an Update
CachyOS August 2026 release is now available with the latest version of KDE, some new features, and plenty of improvements.
-
The Linux Kernel Dev Staging Area Now Rejects AI-Generated Patches
Unless a kernel patch is a valid security fix, it will be rejected if it was created using AI.
-
Linux Surpasses Double-Digit Market Share
According to two sources, the Linux operating system has hit a major milestone in market share that naysayers thought would never happen.
-
AI Helped Develop a Linux Exploit
A use-after-free race exploit was discovered and exploited on CentOS Stream 9.
-
Yet Another Linux Kernel Vulnerability Discovered
Affecting millions of systems, a kernel flaw discovered by Qualys could allow users to gain root privileges.
-
Ubuntu 26.10 to Include Ubuntu Certified Hardware Check
If you've ever wondered if your laptop or PC is officially certified to run Ubuntu, that curiosity will soon be met.
-
Substantial Update to IPFire Now Available
The lastest version of IPFire features a fundamental change to how the system handles DNS.
-
Gnome Working on Test Center App to Make Testing Easier
It's now possible to test experimental features on the Gnome desktop without worrying that you'll break things.