On a related topic, now I've found a place where you probably are reading this topic I've a question for all you 'nix users out there: I am considering converting this box to Linux for dedicated Web browsing, but I can not seem to locate a Firewall that works like My two favourite 'Doze apps do (BlackIce Defender and Agnitum Outpost)-namely, they work by not allowing ANY connection to be made unless specifically allowed on each individual basis. I.e., if I click on the FR site, a little box pops up stating "(Application)(Opera Browser) is requesting a connection with such-and-such a site (www.freerepublic.com). |Allow|Deny|Create Rule for| ?"
Then I click on the Create button and the window switches to a box where I can allow the connection to be allowed once, denied once, or allowed/denied automatically every following time. Using this method, NO spyware/adware/malware has been able to infect this machine, and on other sites I can bypass all the ad-muck popups as well which cleans up the browsing effect markedly. Any recommendations?
I am also looking for a newer version of Linux that can run on an older machine, such as an older one with about 64M of memory or so. Hopefully, one that can be configured to run in extreme power-saving mode so I can leave it on continuously without sending My electricity bill through the roof. Damn Small Linux (DSL) works quite well, but it is rather sparse and I would like something with a little more apps to it. Any ideas from all you experts out there?
Hope that helps.
As far as firewall, I have made a conscious effort to NOT comment of existing firewalls, as I created my own. I took an old P120, installed a minimal distro on it (Can't remember it offhand), and manually edited the ipchains file to drop all connections coming in that I did not specifically request.
Nobody ever gets in, and I can get out. It took me about 4-5 lines of code.
As far as a lightweight distro, try Puppy Linux. It contains a fairly decent set of software, and it's a popular distro.
I just remembered--I've heard pretty good things about Devil Linux--a distro made for firewalls and routers. I have had no experience with it, so I don't know how it works, I would doubt that it will work exactly like you are used to, though.