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Network Security Pen-Test
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Re: ideal OS distro for network scanning?

Subject: Re: ideal OS distro for network scanning?
Date: 15 Jan 2006 18:37:47 -0000
Well the most secure OS is going to be the one that you patch and update, not 
necessarily OpenBSD. I used to be an OpenBSD fan but no longer because I've 
been using FreeBSD for over 4 years now with 0 regret. FreeBSD is much more 
useable and actually remendously easier to upgrade/patch because of the great 
ports system. And for the most part, it's the applications that are vulnerable 
not the OS so which distro is more of a specific questiong that you need to 
dial in on. BSD in general is probably a small notch above the rest and using a 
'server-install' of something like Ubuntu which maintains and distributes 
rigorous updates instantly, you'll also probably find exactly what you're 
looking for. 
-Securing it would be best to just do the most minimal installation possible 
and install ONLY what you need. 
-Optimize the kernel 
-Install Firewall with strict rules, 
-Keep the box up to date...

All of these things can be done best with FreeBSD or Ubuntu for example. I 
choose Ubuntu over Debian because they sync and stabalize code from Debian's 
"Unstable" tree which means the apps are WAY more current. 

I choose FreeBSD over OpenBSD/NetBSD/Dragonfly because of cvsup and 
portupgrade. Portupgrade let's the you build EVERY installed app from new 
patched/updated source from the cvs servers. Which with a good kernel setup, 
gives you a killer performance machine WITH all of the latest patches. Kernel 
config is much easier in BSD IMHO, but no too difficult wherever you go.

--Bill

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