Hi. I wanted to know if it’s needed to install a firewall on a linux desktop/laptop. Why yes or why no?

  • Bitrot@lemmy.sdf.org
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    1 year ago

    Your isp firewall uses nat, and a hacked isp gateway or some other device that had ports forwarded to it are the most likely things to be reaching into your network. They’ll be on that subnet.

      • Bitrot@lemmy.sdf.org
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        edit-2
        1 year ago

        Yes, they’re giving “very simplistic” and also demonstrating how to deny and add access in multiple ways.

        It’s also not uncommon to do things like that. The default firewall config in Fedora is wide open for every port above 1024.

        • Infernal_pizza@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          I set up a rule last night to allow SSH access from any device on my subnet, is it a good idea to add a separate rule blocking SSH from my router? I’ve already set up SSH with public key authentication so in theory there aren’t many devices that can access it but the firewall restriction seemed like a good idea

          • Turun@feddit.de
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            1 year ago

            If you are worried that an attacker may have compromised your router and that key auth is not secure enough, then yes it would make sense.

            I move ssh to a non-default port, only allow key based auth and install fail2ban. This is enough for me. It protects against automated attacks hitting port 22 and prevents brute force.

            • Infernal_pizza@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              1 year ago

              I don’t think my router has been compromised and I think it’s pretty unlikely it will be, but the extra rule seems pretty trivial to set up so if there are no downsides I may as well! I have already changed the SSH port and disabled password login. I’ll look into fail2ban, might be worth it if it’s relatively simple to set up!