I have just upgraded to Linux Mint 13. So far I'm pleased with speed, and now Linux sees and actually prints to my printer. Any suggestions for firewall and antivirus? I've been a windows user so any advise would help, and appreciate the Linux experience.

It is always a good idea, perhaps there is a firewall already included in LinuxMint so you just need to learn how to modify it accordingly with your needs. About an antivirus you will probably be safe in Linux however if you share files with other platforms the risk is still the same.

What I mean by that is that even if the infected file wont do harm to your LinuxMint computer once you transfer that same file to a windows machine it will be catastrophic. So sure make sure to scan for virus before transfering files.

Good luck to you

Thank you.

For firewalls, I just started using uncomplicated firewall (ufw) and so far I like it. Here's a link: community.linuxmint.com/software/view/ufw. Nice thing about it is you can look at the events tab and see what is being blocked, then allow it if you want and it will automatically create a rule. You can also manually create rules in iptables and there are a few scripts out there to help you make your iptables rules.

There are different options for antivirus but it depends on what you're looking for. For Linux the main threat is Trojans (like the one on kde-look.org a while back), so something like clamav might be good enough: it doesn't have realtime protection but will scan files for malware. I think Avira discontinued their Linux product so you could try AVG for Linux (free). Paid there are many options like Kaspersky, McAfee, etc.

EDIT: that trojan I mentioned was actually just a simple script in a gnome-look.org screensaver. More info: http://www.zdnet.com/carelessness-bu...ty-1339299939/.

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Rather than give advice, I'd like to point out my setup at home.

I have a cable connection to my Juniper SSG140 and an SGE cisco switch with MAC filtering enabled. My wireless access point(with mac filtering) and other computers are plugged into the Cisco switch. I do not use a firewall on my computers at home, and also, because all of my machines are Arch/LFS i do not run antivirus. With such a set up I do not see a need for either.

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A firewall is good if the computer has a public IP. If the computer is on a local network and you have a 3rd party device acting as a firewall blocking/filtering incoming traffic from the outside world (such as a firewall-enabled router), then a local firewall on the computer is much less necessary (if at all).

Linux antivirus is more for the protection of your Windows friends than for the Linux machine itself.

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Data security is a collection of what is called best practices. The more you use and the more you know about the safer your data will be. There are many common by default protections included but there are many more that a user ought to know about and use. Each day distro's are getting more secure by default. As you know even simple keeping up to date is a best practice.

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No. My router has a built-in firewall. No sense having the kernel waste computer cycles analyzing packets coming in and out.

As for antivirus, it depends on what you're doing and downloading online and if you share those files with windows users. I don't use antivirus programs as well.

The only thing you have to worry about is phishing attacks and no program can protect you from that, only common sense and smarts will.

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Unless you have a something like a PIX or other hardened firewall I'd think you are not secure.

Look at something like a layer 7+ firewall and compare it to your home router.

The main thing a "firewall router" does, especially a home model, is present a different IP to the public from the ones used within the network. It does not replace an "intelligent" software firewall.

A firewall router should not be confused with a firewall appliance.

I run a software firewall on all my computers. It's just practicing safe HEX, especially as Linux firewall capability (iptables) is built directly into the Linux kernel and uses minimal overhead. Programs such as ufw, which vik mentioned, are simply front-ends for configuring iptables. Once the configuration is established, they do not need to be run, unlike certain other operating systems, in which the firewall is an extra layer on top of the basic OS.

The question of an anti-virus is more subtle. Many accomplished Linux users choose not to use one, because the threat level is so low as to be almost nonexistent. I choose to run one, because better safe than sorry.

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This is what I found
http://www.notebookforums.com/t/2419...-bothered-with
Although not sure what to think on topic

You may hear linux users say some pretty wild stuff once in a while. They mean well but are not really offering the correct best advice. You should and most likely have a minimal firewall.

Bad guys have automated ways to attack each and every OS out there. They do it from their servers and millions of drone bots 24/7. These hackers are good, no, they are some of the best. Any good computer user ought to be scared of them. You should too! I am!

You should use any and all means to keep them out. That includes firewalls, antivirus and many many other means.

I personally still run both SELinux (permissive unless im on a laptop, then I leave it enforcing while outside of my house) and IPTables. I do not bother with any kind of anti-virus on my linux systems unless I am using them to scan MS Windows networks in that case ill just run f-prot.

The exception to that rule is on my mail server i have clamAV running on that to scan all incoming and outgoing e-mails.

Ahh, the always controversial issue of whether Linux needs anti-virus software. This issue clearly jumped back into the forefront with the "Hand of Thief" bank Trojan, which many are now saying was not viable. Ultimately it's going to be your choice. This article looks at the question and then offers some anti-virus options if you choose to go that way. Hope this helps. http://www.futurehosting.com/does-li...irus-software/