As moderator for the Linux - Security forum I would like to ask you all for your cooperation. It won't take up more time than you already spend at LQ.

Compromises: a hidden problem
I notice threads popping up with innocuous sounding thread titles, that in essence are all about system compromises. These threads in general will have no title or content I can track by search term (crack, hack, compromise, rootkit, trojan, etc etc), the thread owners have no clue about what happened, know how to diagnose the situation or let alone manage to post in the Linux - Security forum. I do not want these posts to be handled in an off-hand manner: they should be dealt with properly.

How to help
With any level of knowledge you posess you will have an idea if a post sounds "fishy" with respect to security issues like compromises.
If you find a post that smells like a compromise, sounds like a compromise but doesn't explicitly spell compromise, please handle it yourself starting with extracting as much detail as possible about the situation or point me to the thread. Even if it only is a vague indication, hunch, gut feeling, strong sense or whatever you have, I rather look at a thread and determine it as harmless than have to find another one filled with well-meant but useless, irrelevant or outright harmfull advice because no one stepped in.


Please help your fellow LQ members.
Please help me.
Please be my eyes and ears where I am without.

Well I have to say that more and more people think that this forum is not only a forum to ask for help securing your system but also CRACKING systems.

Don't get me wrong it's something completely different if somebody REALLY lost his root password and if somebody other just says so. I think everything should be looked with from 2 points of view to ensure the person writing is not wanting to abuse any knowledge the members of LQ have ...

I personally refuse to answer questions regarding exploits, etc - except asking a way to prevent exploits.