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Linux Security and Hardening, The Practical Security Guide.

Secure any Linux server from hackers & protect it against hacking. The practical Linux Administration security guide.

Bestseller

Created byJason Cannon

Last updated 7/2026

English

EnglishHebrew [Auto],

What you'll learn

By the end of this course you will be able to harden a Linux system, reduce its surface of vulnerability, and reduce the risk of your Linux system being hacked or compromised.

Course content

8 sections • 58 lectures • 4h 17m total length

Course Overview1:25
A brief overview of what you'll learn in this Linux security course.
Course Downloads0:08
The course download includes the lecture slides as well as additional information security resources.

Section Overview0:58
Explore Linux security and hardening basics, including protecting physical security, evaluating third-party hosting and cloud implications, and implementing data encryption on new and existing Linux systems.
Physical Security Concepts7:41
Single User Mode Security6:45
Single User Mode and Blank Passwords3:13
Securing the Boot Loader7:01
Disk Encryption5:34
Encrypt your disk with dm-crypt and LUKS to protect data on block devices; use strong passphrases or key files, understand memory handling, and enjoy transparent encryption via /dev/mapper during boot.
Encrypting a New Device, Part I8:38
Encrypting a New Device, Part II4:17
Encrypting an Existing Device0:52
Disabling Control Alt Delete1:44
Section Summary0:42
Identify physical security threats to Linux systems. Reduce unauthorized access by preventing boot-time breaches, including attackers entering single user mode, password-protecting the bootloader, and disabling reboots when ctrl-alt-del is pressed.
Physical Security

Section Overview0:45
Intro to PAM5:13
PAM Configuration Example4:05
Password Security7:58
Account Security Demo #1 (UID 0)3:11
Controlling Account Access5:06
Security by Account Type6:02
Account Security Demo #22:44
Shows how root logins are controlled by the secure ttyl file and switching between virtual consoles with ctrl+alt+f. Demonstrates creating an empty secure ttyl file to prevent directory logins.
Account Security Demo #3 (Sudo)4:43
Account Security

Section Overview0:35
Network Security, Part I7:54
Hardening Linux network services begins with running daemons under dedicated users and binding them to needed interfaces. Use firewalls and tcp wrappers to restrict access and keep services updated.
Network Security, Part II6:24
Securing SSHD, Part I7:52
Securing SSHD, Part II3:15
Linux Firewall Fundamentals7:36
Master Linux firewall fundamentals by using netfilter and iptables to build chains (input, output, forward) and rules across filter, nat, mangle, raw, and security tables.
Configuring the Firewall from the Command Line4:04
Configure IPv4 and IPv6 firewall rules with iptables and ip6tables, list chains with -L and -T, and set default policies for Linux security and hardening.
Firewall Rule Specifications4:43
Example Firewall Rules3:59
Linux Firewall Demonstration9:47
Linux Firewalls
TCP Wrappers, Part I7:02
TCP Wrappers, Part II4:02
Network Security

Section Overview1:02
File and Directory Permissions, Intro0:32
File and Directory Permissions, Part I11:14
Learn to set file and directory permissions with groups and chgrp, and how umask masks like 022 and 002 determine 755/644 defaults for directories and files.
File and Directory Permissions, Part II9:17
This is part two of the Linux file permissions lesson. In this lesson you will learn about:
Symbolic permissions
Numeric and octal permissions
File versus directory permissions
Changing permissions
Working with groups
File creation mask
Special Modes, Part I7:56
This lesson covers the special modes of setuid, setgid, and the sticky bit.
Special Modes, Part II3:04
This lesson covers the special modes of setuid, setgid, and the sticky bit.
File Attributes6:06
File Attributes Demo2:48
Demonstrate protecting the hosts file by setting the immutable i attribute with lsattr verification, preventing edits or deletions and illustrating how append attributes affect log files.
ACLs9:25
Learn how access control lists extend Unix and Linux file permissions with access and default ACLs, using setfacl and getfacl to grant, modify, and view granular file and directory permissions.
ACLs Demo6:13
Rootkits8:33
Rootkits enable unauthorized root access and hide themselves, operating in user space or kernel space; detect with chk rootkit and rk hunter, then reinstall the OS or restore from backups.
Rootkit Hunter Demonstration7:12
Rootkit Detection Software0:03

Requirements

A basic understanding of the Linux operating system. Please consider taking "Learn Linux in 5 Days" before taking this course.

Description

JOIN THE OTHER THOUSANDS OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS WHO HAVE ALREADY MASTERED THE LINUX OPERATING SYSTEM WITH THIS TOP RATED COURSE!

Keep yourself and your company out of the news by protecting your Linux systems from hackers, crackers, and attackers!

This course will not only teach you the security concepts and guidelines that will keep your Linux servers safe, it will walk you through hardening measures step-by-step.

Hello. My name is Jason Cannon and I'm the author of Linux Administration, the founder of the Linux Training Academy, and an instructor to thousands of satisfied students. I started my IT career in the late 1990's as a Unix and Linux System Engineer. I've worked for many technology companies who take information security seriously. I've even worked for security firms such as Mandiant and FireEye. I'll be sharing my real-world Linux security experience with you throughout this course.

By the end of this course you will be able to tighten up the security on any Linux system. You'll learn the security weaknesses of the Linux operating system and be given step-by-step instructions on how to protect those weaknesses. You'll even learn some security concepts that apply to information security as a whole while focusing on the Linux specific issues that require special consideration.

What People Are Saying About Jason and his Courses:

"Excellent course on Linux! It is the best way to get started using Linux that I have come across." --Chris Bischoff, Udemy student

"This class was a great review of the 2 Linux classes I took in school. I learned plenty of new stuff and got a great refresher on things I haven't used in some time. I did well on my interview and got the job I was looking for. Thanks!" --Alan Derrick, Udemy student

"This was a great course! Learned a lot from it!" --Ricardo José Crosara Junior, Udemy student

"Excellent starter course. Very good and complete guide to get you started on working on Linux." --Brian Mulder, Udemy student

"Great course! Easy to understand for beginners and a great refresher for experienced users!" --Spencer Ball, Udemy student

"Very well laid out course. Thanks Jason!" --Eric Etheredge, Udemy student

"Love it... it's absolutely one of the best courses I've taken here on Udemy." --Idriss N, Udemy student

"Awesome Course! Another great one. Thanks Jason!" --John Wilmont, Udemy student

"Excellent Course! Having come from a moderate understanding of Linux, this course has given me a deeper and more streamlined understanding of Linux. Definitely worth the money." --Armando Cabrera, Udemy student

"Fantastic course and very beautifully explained." --S John, Udemy student

"Great course, great instructor. I enjoyed every minute of it. I recommend this course 100%." --Alfredo, Udemy student

"I am lovin' it. Nice way to begin one's journey into Linux." --Rohit Gupta, Udemy student

____________________

Here is just some of what you will learn by taking this Linux Security and Hardening course:

How to protect your Linux systems against hackers.
Ways to prevent attackers from breaking into your systems, even when they have physical access to your machine.
How to enforce strong password policies and control password as well as account aging policies on your Linux servers.
SSH Hardening practices.
Network security tactics.
Port scanning and network service detection.
How the Linux firewall works and exactly how to configure it.
How to protect the superuser (root) account.
Ways to share accounts securely with an audit trail.
File system security and encryption.
Using and configuring sudo, and why you need to.
Advanced Linux permissions include special modes, file attributes, and access control lists (ACLs).
Much, much more!

What you learn in course applies to any Linux environment or distribution including Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, RedHat, CentOS, Fedora, OpenSUSE, Slackware, Kali Linux, Arch Linux, and more.

____________________

Additional Course Content - PDFs of All the Material Covered

When you enroll in this Linux Server Security video training course, you'll receive access to all the slides used in the lessons. You can download them and refer to them when you want to jog your memory or double-check your work.

Enroll now and start learning the skills you need to hack-proof your Linux systems today!

Who this course is for:

Anyone with a desire to learn how to secure and harden a computer running the Linux operating system.
Linux system administrators looking to make the systems they support more secure.
People thinking about a career as a Linux system administrator or engineer.
This course is not for people who have never used the Linux operating system before.

Linux Security and Hardening, The Practical Security Guide.

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Course Overview and Downloads2 lectures • 2min

General Security5 lectures • 21min

Physical Security11 lectures • 47min

Account Security9 lectures • 40min

Network Security12 lectures • 1hr 7min

File System Security13 lectures • 1hr 13min

Additional Security Resources5 lectures • 14min

Bonus Section1 lecture • 2min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: