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in reply to Installing perl modules via webmin

I have used webmin for quite some time now, both at home and at work. I think it is a wonderful package for managing the computer, especially for newcomers to linux/unix. It has simplified tedious tasks like dns configuration, version control, database configuration, network configuration, etc. It has a pleasent GUI environment, easy to navigate around, and you can do most of your system admin with it.

Security wise, I never had any problem about running webmin on the LAN. However I am a bit skeptical about exposing the webmin access port to the internet, even when the webmin is configured to run in HTTPS mode. There are too many brilliant hackers out there, you never know what might happen next.

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Re: Re: Installing perl modules via webmin
by phydeauxarff (Priest) on Sep 13, 2003 at 14:10 UTC
    One word of caution concerning feeling safe and cozy in our 'local lans'...I have noticed several colleagues putting wireless gateway's on their lans which exposes them to anyone who happens to drive by (not that any of us would ever do that)....in that scenario you have to treat your local lan like a public network and apply appropriate security to your systems....or better yet, firewall off the wireless and only allow authenticated sessions back into your network...but that is another thread ;-)
      This happens, it happens behind your back, and it may *happen* to you.   See County cuts off computer network.

      Now the background behind this is that the computer center people knew *nothing* about this, not having been consulted on how to set up a wireless lan.   They got blind-sided by idiots who all along insisted they could maintain their own network thank-you-very-much.

      One of the security people at another business I work at now periodically turns on the wireless station in his room just to see what might be broadcasting.   I wouldn't be surprised to see him roaming the halls with a laptop open and running...