Summary

Ubuntu supports a variety of configurations. Although Ubuntu server is ideal for a standalone server, Ubuntu desktop enables you to reach out and communicate with other people. There are plenty of options for accessing the Web, e-mail, IM and VoIP networks. While the default tools (Firefox, Evolution, Gaim, and Ekiga) are very powerful, there are plenty of readily available alternatives such as Mozilla, Lynx, Thunderbird, xchat, irssi, WengoPhone, and Skype. In the case of e-mail, there are even options for extending support to non-standard and web-based mail systems.

With online communications come risks related to network security. There are options for securing web browsers, e-mail, and even off-site communications, but the topics listed in this chapter, such as tuning applications and using SSH tunnels, are just the tip of the iceberg. If you are interested in more information about network security, consider some of these other resources:

• Steal This Computer Book, by Wallace Wang, discusses threats from online forums.

• Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets & Solutions, by Stuart McCluer, Joel Scambray, and George Kurtz, covers many different network threats. Although this resource focuses on Windows, many of the threats are similar for Linux users.

• Introduction to Network Security, by Neal Krawetz, delves into many of the threats from online communications, regardless of the operating system.