Hardened Linux

This release includes a new alpha version package called aaa_hl_pdfdoc that includes the PDF documentation of Hardened Linux. The kernel was also updated from 2.6.18.5 to 2.6.19.2, including the latest grsec kernel patch. All 'universe' packages were removed from the ISO, and will be available with slackpkg in coming releases. Some unnecessary packages have been removed, and some existing ones upgraded. The default install size is only 474 MB; the full install needs around 500 MB.

This release includes a 2.6.18.6-grsec kernel. PaX is now configured to use SEGMEXEC. The Compiler was upgraded from gcc-3.4.4 to gcc-4.1.1. Some new tools (nano, amavisd-new, and CUPS) were added. There is a new package category called "universe" including packages not really needed by a security distribution like HL. Some tools were updated, and some were fixed and patched to compile with gcc-4.1.1.

This is the first release with a 2.6.x kernel
(2.6.18.5-grsec). It adds
new packages, including snort and (in extra/)
clamav, quagga (routing
software), and havp (an anti-virus proxy). Some
package updates are
available, including the new aide version 0.13 and
a security-fixed
gnupg version. More of the included libraries are
now compiled with ssp.

This release contains some new packages like rkhunter, arpwatch, and kerberos. The hardened Linux hardening scripts (hlhs) include many new features, and some other packages are updated. This release also includes security updates for some packages.

This release comes with a new installer, lots of
security enchanced and stack smashing protected
packages (including some new ones like OpenVPN,
OpenLDAP, and aide), a better kernel
configuration, the new "Hardened Linux Hardening
Scripts" (HLHS), and lots of detail changes and
bugfixes.