22 essential security commands for Linux

There are many aspects to security on Linux systems – from setting up accounts to ensuring that legitimate users have no more privilege than they need to do their jobs. This is look at some of the most essential security commands for day-to-day work on Linux systems.

sudo

Running privileged commands with sudo  – instead of switching user to root  – is one essential good practice as it helps to ensure that you only use root privilege when needed and limits the impact of mistakes. Your access to the sudo command depends on settings in the /etc/sudoers and /etc/group files.

$ sudo adduser shark
Adding user `shark' ...
Adding new group `shark' (1007) ...
Adding new user `shark' (1007) with group `shark' ...
Creating home directory `/home/shark' ...
Copying files from `/etc/skel' ...
Enter new UNIX password:
Retype new UNIX password:
passwd: password updated successfully
Changing the user information for shark
Enter the new value, or press ENTER for the default Full Name []: shark Room Number []: Work Phone []: Home Phone []: Other []:
Is the information correct? [Y/n] Y

If you run sudo and ask who you are, for example, you’ll get confirmation that you’re running the command as root.

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