Securing Linux laptops


 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Special Forums News, Links, Events and Announcements UNIX and Linux RSS News Securing Linux laptops
# 1  
Old 01-07-2008
Securing Linux laptops

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:00:00 GMT
Laptop and notebooks are being stolen at an ever-increasing rate. In 2004, Safeware Insurance which sells computer insurance, estimated 600,000 laptop and notebooks a year were being stolen. In 2006 an estimated 750,000 were being swiped, according to Absolute Software a company that makes computer tracking products -- and does not support Linux. LoJack For Laptops, another computer tracing company -- which also does not support Linux -- says FBI statistics show 2 million laptop and notebook computers were stolen in the US in a recent year. While the figures may not agree in detail, they all show that laptop and notebook theft is a major problem -- and if you're not careful, your Linux laptop might be next.


Source...
Login or Register to Ask a Question

Previous Thread | Next Thread

6 More Discussions You Might Find Interesting

1. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Linux laptops

Hi Guru's, I am planning to buy a laptop/ desktop for installing linux for practice. Can you please suggest me which of the above is best. (3 Replies)
Discussion started by: rama krishna
3 Replies

2. Ubuntu

Kubuntu on (certain) Lenovo laptops not possible - reasons?

Hi. I've used the Wubi install of Ubuntu and Kubuntu on my Windows XP machine for close to half a year now. My brother has let me know of a program where he works by which they're getting rid of (with support negated) several Lenovo laptops, on which, he also informs me, the K 'flavor' of Ubuntu... (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: SilversleevesX
1 Replies

3. Cybersecurity

Securing Passwords

Hi All, I'd like to give you an example of what I am trying to achieve and perhaps you might be able to help me along. I would like to add the following criteria to new servers, from a password aging and lockout standpoint. -Number of failed logins before lockout: = 5 -Number of Passwords... (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: mkono
1 Replies

4. UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users

Securing Tomcat under Linux/Unix

Hi This being my first post I have to say that you guys seem to have a nice community going. My question is regarding securing Tomcat 5.0 on a Linuxbased system (Red Hat 9) and particularly concerning file access for Tomcat. The problem is that it is possible to gain access to any file on a... (0 Replies)
Discussion started by: starkis
0 Replies

5. AIX

securing a shell

I would like to secure a shell script from being broken out of with Ctrl-C or equivalent. Once a user logs in, he should not be able to exit to the command prompt. any ideas. Thank you J (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: jhansrod
1 Replies

6. Shell Programming and Scripting

Securing arguments

OK here is my problem. Ive been trying to write a script where i use the order "find". For example if i wont to find some file in the sql_work directory using the script. You use the command: loc sql_work "q*" in order to find all the queries in the directory. Is there any other way to do it,... (0 Replies)
Discussion started by: SolidSnake
0 Replies
Login or Register to Ask a Question
ACPITOOL(1)							   User Commands						       ACPITOOL(1)

NAME
acpitool - a Linux ACPI client, allowing you to query or set ACPI values SYNOPSIS
acpitool [ -aAbBcefFhjlmnosStTvVwWz ] DESCRIPTION
acpitool is a Linux ACPI client. It simply reads /proc/acpi or /sys/class entries and presents the output in a meaningfull, human-readable format. It provides a.o. information on battery status, AC adapter presence, thermal reading, etc. This command is most useful on laptops with an ACPI compliant BIOS and a Linux kernel, preferably from the 2.6 series, with ACPI enabled. Acpitool also allows the machine to be put into standby, if your laptop supports it. If your laptop is a Toshiba , it allows you to set the LCD brighness level and toggle the fan on/off. If you have an Asus laptop, it can also set the LCD brightness level, switch the LCD panel on or off, and control the mail led and wireless led. If you have an IBM Thinkpad laptop, it can once again set the LCD brightness level, and also eject the ultrabay device. OPTIONS
-a, --ac_adapter Show AC adapter presence -A Show supported Asus ACPI extensions (LCD brightness level, video out routing DSDT/acpi4asus info) -b Show battery status information, available batteries only. -B, --battery Show detailed battery status information, for all battery entries found. -c, --cpu Show CPU information (type, speed, PM capabilities, throttling states, c-state usage, frequency scaling). -e Show just about everything : more info on the batteries, ACPI version, kernel version, CPU, . . . -f, --fan Show fan status (shows fan info specific to Toshiba or IBM Thinkpad, if applicable). -F x Force the fan on (x=1) or switch back to auto mode (x=0). Works only on Toshiba laptops. The fan is switched off ONLY if it was forced on first, not if it was switched on automatically. Requires write access to /proc/acpi/toshiba/fan -h, --help Show help text. -j Eject Thinkpad ultrabay device. Requires write acces to /proc/acpi/ibm/bay -l x Set LCD brightness level to x, where x is in the range 0..7. Works only on Toshiba and IBM Thinkpad laptops. Requires write access to /proc/acpi/tochiba/lcd or /proc/acpi/ibm/brightness Illegal values for x will result in the value being set to either 0 or 7. -m x Switch the mail led on (x=1) or off (x=0). Works only on Asus laptops. Requires write access to /proc/acpi/asus/mled -n x Switch the wireless led on (x=1) or off (x=0). Works only on Asus laptops. Requires write access to /proc/acpi/asus/wled -o x Switch the LCD panel on (x=1) or off (x=0). Works only on Asus laptops. Requires write access to /proc/acpi/asus/lcd -s, --suspend to memory Put the machine into sleep state S3, if possible. Requires write access to /proc/acpi/sleep (kernel 2.4.x) or /sys/power/state (kernel 2.6.x) -S, --suspend to disk ? Put the machine into sleep state S4, if possible. Requires write access to /proc/acpi/sleep (kernel 2.4.x) or /sys/power/state (kernel 2.6.x) -t, --thermal Show thermal zone(s) information, including trip_points. -T, --Toshiba Show supported Toshiba ACPI extensions, currently being LCD brightness level, video out routing (what display is the video chip sending to) and fan status (on/off, forced or not). -v Show more verbose output when something is not found. Makes sense only when used together with other options. -V, --version Show acpitool version number and release date, then exit. -w Show the wakeup capable devices. (Available since ACPI 20040715, check your version). -W x Enable/disable wakeup capable device x. Run 'acpitool -w' to see valid numbers for x. Requires write access to /proc/acpi/wakeup -z x Set Asus LCD brightness level to x, where x is 0..15. Works only on Asus laptops. Requires write access to /proc/acpi/asus/brn REMARKS
This program absolutely requires a Linux kernel with ACPI support enabled. This program will not work without it. IBM Thinkpad support is part of the Linux kernel since kernel 2.6.10. Don't blame me if acpitool can't suspend your laptop : there are quite some problematic laptops out there. Check the acpi-bugzilla list if you don't believe me ;) Note that some options, like -F, -l , -j, -s, -W and -z, require write access to some of the /proc/acpi entries. This requires acpitool either to be run as root or either administrative measures must be taken, most likely by root, to allow ordinary users to write to these files. Creating a group for ACPI users and setting permissions accordingly comes to mind. Also note that older laptops (< 2000) often simply don't have ACPI support, they usually support APM only. BUGS
Let me know if you think you found one. FILES
/proc/acpi/... /proc/acpi/toshiba /proc/acpi/asus /proc/acpi/ibm /sys/power/state HOMEPAGE
http://freeunix.dyndns.org:8000/site2/acpitool.shtml AUTHOR
This program is written and maintained by David Leemans (davidleemans |at| scarlet |dot| be) and may be freely distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License. There is ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY for this program. AcpiTool 0.5 24 Jul 2008 ACPITOOL(1)