Network security is an ever growing need these days. You never know what you’re going to find when you step out into the wild world of the internet. Luckily we’re all using Ubuntu so we’re much more protected than most of the world, but there still is reason to protect our computers and networks.
For those of you that are not behind a hardware router (if you don’t know this might be you) you definitely want to install a firewall for your system. Firewalls can be very simple or very complex, depending on your needs. Now this post will not go into the deepest detail of configuring, maintaining or watching a firewall but I wanted to give some quick suggestions for those of you that might need one.
The simplest desktop firewall that I’ve used on an Ubuntu system is Firestarter. It is very easy to set incoming and outgoing network policies based on port, IP, domain, etc. To install Firestarter you’ll want to do the following:
sudo aptitude install firestarter
Once this is installed you should be able to run the program by running the command firestarter or it should be located in:
Applications > Internet > Firestarter
This program should be fairly straight-forward to configure for your machine. The best policy on an unprotected machine is no-incoming policy. It’s always the safest route to be able to get out but not let anything in. Give it a try. If you run into any trouble leave a comment or check out the Ubuntu Forums for more detail.
Update: See the second half of this tutorial at Using Firestarter.
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what is there in this post other than apt-get don’t try to cheat people like this there are many thing in firestarter try to show them instead of of just installing
I agree.
I’m sorry, but the choice of words for title of the article doesn’t do it justice. (Its actually a bit deceiving).
It should be: “How to install Firestarter on Ubuntu”
No where in this article, does it show how one actually sets up Firestarter.
There is no example for setting up basic protection (“don’t let anything come in, unless I expressly say so”), nor are there screenshots.
You can’t expect a Linux beginner running Ubuntu to spend time playing with it, as most of them just want something to work with minimum fuss.
All I’m saying, this article can be improved. (Is this site about tutorials?)…At the moment, its equivalent to getting a 6yr old, fitting them with floaties, and throwing them into the swimming pool.
I want Setup a Desktop Firewall with Firestarter : Ubuntu (5.10 / 6.06.1 / 6.10)
Hi plz tell me any body to how to configure firestarter firewall in Ubuntu Linux
Thanks
Amar
Dear Sir/Madam
Installing firestarter is a mystery. Have gone to the ubuntu software centre – clicked on install – brings up a message “waiting for other software managers to quit” – waited about an hour – nothing I’m afraid. Cannot find how you can just download – doesn’t work I’m afraid.
From What screen do you key in “sudo aptitude install firestarter” for example?
Tried re loading Ubuntu from a CD with a magazine. Same problems. Is it just me?