webserver security

[bedrock]

i know this is a really vague question on an incredibly complex topic, but how do i keep my webserver secure? i started out the box as a simple firewall/router on my cable internet connection, but it has grown into a full server with httpd,php,mysql,ssh,ftp,imap,smtp,pop, etc etc. im switching over to dsl and have a domain registered, so while there isnt anything seriously important on the machine, i do want it to be secure.

obviously i dont expect anyone to tell me exactly what to do, but could someone give me a hand with getting started? if nothing else provide some links to a good starting point?

thanks in advance.

what we see depends mainly on what we're looking for.
--John Lubbock

 

[pupu]

Just a bunch of tips... first, keeps things up-to-date. Apply all security-related patches for your distribution as soon as possible. Try to run services chrooted. Check logs every day for suspicious activity. Try to install some kind of IDS. Check your system from time to time by some security scanner (Nessus, for example). Install checksum software (Tripwire) and keep its database up-to-date. Switch unused services off. Maybe remove all development tools, if you have also some development machine. Install and configure firewall and analyze its logs. Choose good password, remove unused accounts. Use only secure access protocols (ssh, not telnet, scp, not ftp...). And be careful which programs you are placing on the server as web applications. There are some guidelines for secure programming for web, but this topic is really too big for this place ;-) And the last thing - try to learn as much as possible about your system. Watch it carefully and you'll get familiar with it - and everything out of order will quickly catch your eye.