DAILY NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR THE GLOBAL GRID COMMUNITY / JUNE 9, 2003: VOL. 2 NO. 23    ( Table of Contents )

Breaking News - Security:

Publisher To Release Ultimate Guide To OpenBSD

OpenBSD users believe that without security, there is no freedom. For OpenBSD users and security conscious people everywhere, No Starch Press announces the publication of "Absolute OpenBSD" (by Michael W. Lucas,), the first book dedicated to this powerful and famously secure operating system.

With the amount of hacking activity on the Internet at an all time high, security is fast becoming the primary concern for system administrators. OpenBSD is popular among the security conscious because it has fewer security holes than any variety of Linux or Windows. "OpenBSD is the most secure networked operating system in the world," says author Michael W. Lucas. "In many operating systems, security is either an afterthought or an add-on. OpenBSD has integrated a 'practical paranoia' into every layer of the operating system. While the operating system trusts nothing, it still allows you to do useful work."

Theo de Raadt, founder of OpenBSD says, "People have been clamoring for an OpenBSD-specific book for years. Michael has stepped up to provide one." Lucas, who also authored the critically-acclaimed "Absolute BSD" (No Starch Press), developed his new book with the support of the tightly-knit OpenBSD community. "I had extensive feedback and encouragement from the OpenBSD community, including the project lead. Dozens of OpenBSD developers and users reviewed the initial manuscript."

No Starch Press is no stranger to interaction with Open Source communities. Bill Pollock, founder and president of No Starch Press, notes the communities role: "This book would not have happened without the continued dedication of the OpenBSD community. Our previous experience with other Open Source communities definitely helped speed the process along."

"Absolute OpenBSD" gives both novice and intermediate OpenBSD users unfettered access to this highly-secure operating system. It includes friendly explanations, background information, troubleshooting suggestions, and copious examples throughout. Readers will learn how to:

• Install and configure OpenBSD, in both dedicated and multi-boot installs
• Implement security features found only in OpenBSD, such as Systrace, a system call access manager
• Construct firewalls with "pf," the innovative OpenBSD packet filter
• Make software management quick and effective using the ports and packages system
• Encrypt filesystems and disk swap for better system security

For experienced UNIX users who want to add OpenBSD to their repertoire, there is now an ultimate guide: "Absolute OpenBSD."

About The Author

Michael W. Lucas, author of the critically-acclaimed "Absolute BSD", has been working with BSD-based operating systems since the late 1980s. His column, "Big Scary Daemons," for the O'Reilly Report is in its third year. He has worked for several years as a consultant specializing in security, intrusion response, and network management.