tools
Tools of Choice – tried and tested
www.ubuntulinux.org
(Linux for Human Beings)
An outstanding linux distribution based on Debian. Aiming to make this distribution both up to date and easy to use, the Ubuntu Foundation has funding from Mark Shuttleworth and Canonical Ltd.
There is not much wrong with this distribution or its philosophy. Get an easy to test LiveCD that you can load without affecting your current operating system or get one of the install cd’s and say goodbye to Windows – you can even get copies of the cd’s delivered to your door for FREE!
Click here for Screenshots of the latest version
A full featured office suite that is compatiable with most Microsoft Office formats and can “save as” microsoft documents if required.
Includes Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Presentation, Web Writer and more. Runs on a variety of platforms including Linux and Windows Desktops.
www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
A secure and fast web browser. Superior to Internet Explorer in many ways – especially Security. Easy access to plugins allows your browser to be extended and built upon.
Has additonal features such as pop up blocking and tabbed browsing. Try it – you wont go back. Available for a variety of platforms including Linux and Windows Desktops.
www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/
A more secure way to use email. A drop in replacement for Outlook Express that can be easily extended to add highly secure functions such as pgp encrypted email via plugins.
See the enigmail plugin for easy access to encypted email. PGP email is highly secure and easy to use once initial configuration has taken place.
An extension to Mozilla Mail and Mozilla Thunderbird allowing easy access to GnuPGP encryption.
Unencrypted email is sent in clear text, meaning it can be quite easy for other parties to read all your email when it travels over public networks such as the internet. Secure your communications with GnuPGP.
GnuPG is a complete and open source version of PGP. Encrypt email, files and partitions.
As mentioned securing your email is essential when using public networks such as the internet. Encrypting files on your system is the next step. This will stop even those with physical access to the machine from reading your confidential files.
An implementation of onion routing that is secure and open.
Using Tor can help you anonymize web browsing and publishing, instant messaging, IRC, SSH, and other applications that use the TCP protocol. Tor also provides a platform on which software developers can build new applications with built-in anonymity, safety, and privacy features.
A firewall and internet gateway in a box, if you have a small office. This will sit on your gateway nicely and provide you with an easy to manage and secure perimeter server. Based on a cut down and hardened version of Linux – of course! Can be setup in 15mins.
- Protects the local network from outside attack, whilst interfering as little as possible with user activities
- Simple enough to be installed by anyone with no previous knowledge of Linux required
- Supports a wide variety of network cards, modems and other hardware
- Ease of use with management and configuration through a web interface
A powerful spam filter for your mail gateway.
SpamAssassin uses a wide variety of local and network tests to identify spam signatures. This makes it harder for spammers to identify one aspect which they can craft their messages to work around.
An open source antivirus solution, primarily suited for Mail Servers it can also be used on the desktop (www.clamwin.com).
Recent reports show that updates to the clamav virus signatures are as fast (if not faster) than the leading commercial anti-virus vendors.
ssh server and client. a secure way to remotely manage systems via the command line. Also very useful for tunneling unencypted protocols and tunneling applications through restrictive firewalls.
