Introduction to
Unix System Security Tools

This chapter starts off with a practical definition of UNIX, a quick UNIX history, and a snapshot of the different UNIX variants. It presents a taxonomy of computer security and related concepts. It introduces the world of UNIX security tools and cites criteria for evaluating security tools. This chapter also discusses the security implications of open-source software and makes an argument for a full-disclosure approach to security. It concludes with an overview of several important rules to think about when planning for and implementing system security.