I don't use Ubuntu, but I do occasionally recommend it to others. Does Ubuntu have an automatic set up of a firewall, or do users have to install one on their own (IE, install a program such as firestarter, fwbuilder, shorewall, pyroman, or guarddog)? How do Ubuntu users generally set up a firewall?

I am behind a router, so I have not used a software firewall in quite a while.
Before I started using a router though I used to use Firestarter in Ubuntu. It was always very easy to use for me. I would try Firestarter again if I needed a software firewall for Ubuntu.
There is also Gurarddog, Lokkit, and possibly others. See these:
http://www.linux.com/news/enterprise...wall-on-ubuntu
http://useopensource.blogspot.com/20...in-ubuntu.html
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/sec...ewallantivirus

1 members found this post helpful.

Thanks tommcd. I myself use Guarddog, and have used Lokkit in the past (though Lokkit now seems dated). I'm just curious to know of how this is approached in Ubuntu, which is similar to Debian, but has a more automated approach to many items (IE, more centralised GUIs and/or wizards for users). Some newbies on linuxquestions.org speak of wishing to switch from Windows to Linux due to having gotten a lot a malware while using Windows. Given that Ubuntu is often recommended to such people, I was wondering what the pat answer would be to give them for setting up a firewall on Ubuntu (or, I was wondering if there was a pat answer). For instance, in Ubuntu, installing programs can be done with the Ubuntu Software Centre, so I was wondering if a similar central device existed for setting up firewalls (like a control centre, where a firewall option can be check-marked or selected or something). After all, I think it's a good idea to have a firewall to avoid malware.

For now, I'll assume the pat answer is to recommend firestarter, unless I hear otherwise. Or, perhaps it's unnecessary to recommend anything, given the default set up of Ubuntu.

How about Arno's ip tables firewall:

http://packages.ubuntu.com/lucid/arno-iptables-firewall

Although not quite 'automatic' it sets up a firewall with very little effort.
I came across this for Debian,it might be what you are looking for.

Ubuntu does not have a centralized control center. Other distros like Mandriva and Suse do have something like this though.
You can do a "shields up" scan to test if any ports are open:
http://www.grc.com/default.htm
Scroll down to and click on "shields up" on that page, then click "proceed" on the next page, then run a scan of "all service ports" on the following page.
As per the psychocats.net link in my last post, Ubuntu is pretty secure by default. A firewall does add an extra layer of protection and "peace of mind". A firewall can also stealth all your ports, so your computer is invisible to port scans. Try "shields up" with and without a firewall to see if there is a difference.

1 members found this post helpful.

Yes, I've already done the shields up test, and everything is "stealth" except for port 113 which is "closed". Thus, I fail, according to the site, which goes on to give its own solution to how I can "pass" with referrals to other sites. However, I'm fine with the result and happy enough with my own firewall (guarddog), and don't feel the need to pursue Gibson Research Corporation's solution to stealthing port 113.

I was just wondering if Ubuntu had a default or not that I should refer newbies to. So, now I know. Thanks.