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Security and Privacy Guide


For a GNU/Linux-only system:

Security experts recommend creating separate partitions for swap (memory) and the /(root), /boot, /usr, /var, /tmp, and /home directories and assigning write restrictions to them, to reduce the threats of various attacks. I strongly recommend playing it safe and listening to the experts, just in case. You also might want to consider creating a partition for the /opt directory, if you'll be installing third party software that requires it.

But if you aren't concerned about security, you only need to create partitions for swap and root(usually referred to as /), although I recommend also creating one for home, so that when you upgrade the operating system, or it somehow gets corrupted, your documents will be left untouched.

Note: Just so you don't get confused, be aware that there are three types of root in GNU/Linux: 1)the root directory, 2)the root user or administrator account and 3)the root user's or administrator's home directory.

Note: Red Hat recommends only creating an /opt partition if you know for a fact that you will be installing third party software that requires it. Or to avoid the need for an /opt partition, as root(administrator or superuser), enter the following commands in the terminal to enable software meant to install under /opt to actually install under /usr/opt:

cd /

mkdir /usr/opt

ln -s /usr/opt /opt

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Note: Both Rad and Doc recommend creating GNU/Linux partitions with PartitionMagic instead of the partitioning utilities the GNU/Linux distros come with. If one of the GNU/Linux distributions listed in step 1 is unable to detect the GNU/Linux partitions you created, delete them and create at least two FAT32 partitions.

These distros are meant for former Windows users, so some of them were designed to detect FAT32 partitions. Some of these distros detect other types of partitions, but some of them don't. Once the distro has detected the partitions, follow the steps in the installation to format the FAT32 partitions for GNU/Linux. skip

Partitioners

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Partitioning Strategies and Guides

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GNU/Linux Installation Guides

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GNU/Linux Guides and Support Resources for Beginners

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After installing GNU/Linux, be sure to create a disk image of your operating system's partition or partitions with one of the following disk imagers, to save your GNU/Linux installation before it gets messed up for whatever reason, and save time restoring it after it gets messed up. (Restoring the disk image takes less time than reinstalling your operating system.) skip


Security and Privacy Guide


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