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Security (Why FreeBSD?)

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(general cleanup, as well as differentiating between the security provided by wheel-only su, and OpenSSH configured not to allow root logins)
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FreeBSD has a significantly better security record, particularly as concerns out-of-the-box security, than most if not all Linux distributions.  As an example, the default FreeBSD install includes OpenSSH set NOT to allow root logins - the hopeful remote user must log into SSH as a user in the wheel group, and must then [[su]] to root afterwards.  Most if not all Linux distros instead default OpenSSH to allow root login, which is hideously insecure because it allows a cracker to use a program like John the Ripper to try dictionary or brute-force attacks against the root account directly.
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FreeBSD has a significantly better security record, particularly as concerns out-of-the-box security, than most Linux distributions.  For example, a default FreeBSD installation includes OpenSSH configured to disallow root logins -- a potential attacker must first know the account name of a user in the [[wheel]] group (because only users in group [[wheel]] can use [[su]]), log in as that user, and then [[su]] to root.  Most Linux distributions instead install OpenSSH configured to allow root logins, which is more insecure because it allows a cracker to use an [http://www.k-otik.com/exploits/08202004.brutessh2.c.php automated program] to attempt dictionary or brute-force attacks against the root account.
  
If you don't think there are toolkits "in the wild" right now to try dictionary / brute force attacks over the net against the root account over SSH, [http://www.k-otik.com/exploits/08202004.brutessh2.c.php think again].
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Furthermore, because only users in group [[wheel]] can [[su]] to root, even if a remote attacker knows root's password, the attacker is powerless if he cannot access the account of a user in group [[wheel]].
[[Category:Why FreeBSD?]]
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Revision as of 16:10, 27 December 2004

FreeBSD has a significantly better security record, particularly as concerns out-of-the-box security, than most Linux distributions. For example, a default FreeBSD installation includes OpenSSH configured to disallow root logins -- a potential attacker must first know the account name of a user in the wheel group (because only users in group wheel can use su), log in as that user, and then su to root. Most Linux distributions instead install OpenSSH configured to allow root logins, which is more insecure because it allows a cracker to use an automated program to attempt dictionary or brute-force attacks against the root account.

Furthermore, because only users in group wheel can su to root, even if a remote attacker knows root's password, the attacker is powerless if he cannot access the account of a user in group wheel.

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