Using public internet (Linux Mint)

[spandexninja]

I plan to use my laptop (Linux Mint 14) with dorm internet (700 people in the dorm) and public Wifi.

How do I turn off things like sharing and network discovery on Linux Mint?

What other measures can I take to secure my laptop and make it more difficult to access?

 

[Jodell88]

Linux doesn't do sharing and network discovery.

 

[mv2devnull]

Linux can do such things, but usually does not by default.

sshd might be on by default. Turn if off, or
http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/Network/SecuringSSH
(wrong distro, but ideas are good)

 

[Ken g6]

If the package "samba" isn't installed, you're not doing sharing. So uninstall it if it's installed.

I am curious about setting up Linux firewalls, however. I like IPFW, but I don't know how to set it up on Linux. The Linux default seems to be IPTables, and IPTables gives me fits every time I try to read a tutorial.

 

[Jodell88]

I am curious about setting up Linux firewalls, however. I like IPFW, but I don't know how to set it up on Linux. The Linux default seems to be IPTables, and IPTables gives me fits every time I try to read a tutorial.

I use UFW instead of writing iptables rules by hand.

I believe most if not all Linux firewalls translate into iptables rules.

 

[lxskllr]

I use UFW instead of writing iptables rules by hand.

I believe most if not all Linux firewalls translate into iptables rules.

I take it a step easier and use gufw :^D

Edit:
If you have money for a vpn, that would be the way to go. I'd at least use the https everywhere addon for Firefox or Chromium. That'll force https when available.

 

[exloser]

would the advice given so far also be applicable to other flavors of linux? I use a lite version of ubuntu.

 

[TSDible]

would the advice given so far also be applicable to other flavors of linux? I use a lite version of ubuntu.

Mint is based off Ubuntu.

The advice given here should be applicable to any *buntu flavor.

 

[calden]

Linux doesn't do sharing and network discovery.

Your joking right?

 

[calden]

Mint is based off Ubuntu.

The advice given here should be applicable to any *buntu flavor.

Ubuntu and Mint are actually Debian based.

 

[MrColin]

I plan to use my laptop (Linux Mint 14) with dorm internet (700 people in the dorm) and public Wifi.

How do I turn off things like sharing and network discovery on Linux Mint?

What other measures can I take to secure my laptop and make it more difficult to access?

To answer your first question you could block your whole dorm's subnet except for the gateway using whatever firewall utility, but ask yourself this: Why? How likely is it that someone in the dorm is going to perform some remote intrusion? Having your traffic sniffed and abused is only as risky as the value of the information. It might turn out that you want to share files with your dormmates for any number of reasons as well.

IMO the biggest risk is having the thing physically stolen. I suggest encrypted user data (versus full disk) and something like prey in case of theft.

 

[lxskllr]

Having your traffic sniffed and abused is only as risky as the value of the information.

Even low risk stuff can be a nuisance you don't want to deal with. The rest of what you said stands though.

What's the scene like at a college today? I'd think there would be a lot of people dying to tryout their hacking chops with a lot of ready targets.

 

[TSDible]

Ubuntu and Mint are actually Debian based.

Semantics...

Yes... Ubuntu came from Debian and still has a Debian feel under the hood. But it is not "based off" Debian. It is not compatible with any Debian reppos.

Although there is a Debian edition of Mint, the mainstream version is based on Ubuntu, and compatible with Ubuntu repos.

The OP was specifically talking about Mint. That was the purpose of my comment.