Category Archives: Linux

Configuring iptables
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Posted on June 28, 2011 by

In Linux the most basic way of protecting you machine is with iptables.  Iptables is a firewall that comes preinstalled and configured on MOST Linux distros.  I say most because Arch does not preinstall it since that would conflict with their bare-bones … Continue reading →

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Change Password Complexity Requirements
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Posted on June 28, 2011 by

There are no password requirements by default in CentOS and Fedora, however it is very simple to add them. edit /etc/pam.d/system-auth change the line which says: password requisite pam_cracklib.so try_first_pass retry=3 to password requisite pam_cracklib.so try_first_pass retry=3 minlen=8 ucredit=2 dcredit=3 ocredit=-1 … Continue reading →

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Change Password Encryption
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Posted on June 28, 2011 by

The default password encryption on CentOS or Fedora is pretty weak.  If your shadow file were to be compromised it would not take long to get your passwords.  The command below will allow you to change your encryption to be … Continue reading →

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Permanently Turn on Automatic Syntax Highlighting
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Posted on June 28, 2011 by

If you are like me you write a lot of code in vim.  I have noticed by default some distros don’t install vim with automatic syntax highlighting. edit /etc/vimrc add “syntax on”

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Clean Out Orphaned Packages in Arch
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Posted on June 28, 2011 by

After using Arch for a while and installing and removing applications you are bound to accumulate orphaned packages… which are just packages that were install as dependencies  but now that the original program has been remove they are no longer needed.  An easy way … Continue reading →

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