How to secure Ubuntu using Uncomplicated Firewall

You just installed Ubuntu Desktop 18.04 and can assume that your desktop is quite safe. That assumption is usually correct. However, we all know that any computer connected to the network is not safe. Users must always do everything possible to protect the computer from the risk of being attacked. To be honest, the Ubuntu desktop is much safer than the Windows desktop. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't take additional steps to secure it.

In fact, users can take one more step when deploying the desktop, to make it more secure. That is activating the firewall. The Ubuntu Desktop firewall (also known as Uncomplicated Firewall - or ufw) is not enabled by default.

How to secure Ubuntu using Uncomplicated Firewall Picture 1

Using the sudo ufw command indicates that the firewall on the Ubuntu Desktop 18.04 installation will not work. Fortunately, activating it is quite simple.

Activate the Ubuntu firewall

To activate UFW firewall, enter the following command:

 sudo ufw enable

At this point, the firewall is active and the system will also restart. However, there is a small problem. The firewall is currently active and blocks all incoming traffic.

How to secure Ubuntu using Uncomplicated Firewall Picture 2

Enable SSH connection

For example, when remote desktop control is needed, you will probably use SSH to have this access, but with basic firewall setup, SSH connections are denied. In other words, it is necessary to allow safe shell connection to the desktop. To do this, you can use the ufw command as follows:

 sudo ufw allow ssh

Now, new rules have been added.

How to secure Ubuntu using Uncomplicated Firewall Picture 3

At this point, it is possible to connect the safe shell to the desktop. Of course, to make SSH connections more secure, always use the SSH key authentication option.

That's all it takes. Ubuntu Desktop is now much safer. Of course, this is not all that can be done to secure Ubuntu Desktop. There are a lot of other steps that can be taken to better secure Ubuntu Desktop, such as using a safer web browser, encrypting data, restricting access to su commands, using DNS-over-TLS , etc.). But for those who are looking for ways to fix security issues quickly, enabling a firewall on Ubuntu Desktop is an extremely effective option.

Good luck!

See more:

How to run and install Pantheon Desktop on Ubuntu
Instructions on how to install Ubuntu on VirtualBox virtual machine
How to install Ubuntu and still keep Windows

Micah Soto

Update 26 May 2019

You should read it

May be interested

Instructions allow applications to communicate with each other via Windows Firewall
windows firewall acts as a barrier to prevent your computer from connecting to the rest of the internet. the firewall retains unwanted network traffic and allows applications on your computer to communicate with the outside world. but each fence needs a gate, and that's where exceptions come in.
How to turn firewall (Firewall) on Win 7
how to turn off the firewall (firewall) on windows 7. a firewall is a software that comes with windows and it is responsible for filtering information on and off the computer. firewalls are also an advantage of windows 7 when they protect against malicious files. viruses invade their computers
Learn about Cloud Firewall
as the technology around us grows, firewalls also need to be brought to the cloud to keep up with the trend. that's why the term cloud firewall was born.
3 ways to turn off the Windows 11 firewall, steps to turn off the firewall on windows 11
windows 11 is a new operating system released by microsoft in 2021. of course, it still has a built-in windows firewall (firewall) to ensure user safety. but if you want to turn off the firewall on windows 11, how do you do it?
Overview of the TMG Firewall Troubleshooting feature
one of the most recognizable enhancements in the tmg firewall is what is available in the isa 2006 firewall, which is the troubleshooting section.
Why is Ubuntu LTS preferred over regular distros?
ubuntu is one of the most widely used linux distributions among software developers and other content creators. ubuntu is also used for many servers around the globe.
What's new in Ubuntu 18.04 LTS just released?
ubuntu 18.04 lts code-named bionic beaver has just been officially launched on april 26th. this version is canonical's up to 5 year support period.
How to use DNS over TLS on Ubuntu Linux
you can use dns in which all dns queries are processed through the encrypted tls (transport layer secure) protocol. however, most operating systems do not work with dns over tls.
How to turn on and off Windows 10 firewall, Windows 10 Firewall fastest
to enable or disable the firewall on windows 10, you can access the security and firewall settings in control center. this allows you to manage network access for software and services. follow the steps to toggle windows 10 firewall to adjust windows defender firewall settings, windows 10 firewall and protect your computer.
3 ways to turn off the Windows 10 firewall, steps to turn off the firewall on Windows 10
windows firewall, also known as firewall, is responsible for ensuring the safety of your windows computer. it will filter and prevent malicious data streams from attacking the computer.

How to secure Ubuntu using Uncomplicated Firewall

Activate the Ubuntu firewall

Enable SSH connection

You should read it

May be interested

Linux