Summary

In this Chapter, we’ve introduced you to the major concepts involved in computer security in general, and specifically how they relate to Mac OS X. We’ve looked at both the physical security of your computer and its files, and the network security of your computer, or how other computers can connect to your computer. We’ve learned what kinds of threats exist on the Internet, and developed an understanding of the issues that can affect us. We’ve learned how to replace the provided FTP server with a more secure and configurable server, and have looked at the built in firewall and learned how to manage and monitor system logs.

We’ve covered a lot of ground in this Chapter, and truthfully have barely scratched the tip of the iceberg. Entire books are written on the subject of security. Hopefully this introduction has given you a sense of the issues surrounding security and will help you think about security and how it relates to using your computer and safely sharing resources with other users.

As was stated in the beginning of the Chapter, computer security is a fast-moving target. You’d do well to read up on current events in the security world. The Web site http://www.securityfocus.com is a tremendous resource, with many mailing lists dedicated to the issue of computer security.

The best way to secure your system is to keep all software you are running current. Do this through Apple Software Update, and by maintaining current versions of all third-party software you install. Consider using package managers like Fink whenever possible to maintain and keep third-party software up to date.