-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- No. Virus packets are no different from any other packets. Regarding other dangers - it depends how your network accesses the internet. If it connects up via a router or even the Linux server itself you are still in danger. As you are offering smtp I assume that is the case. The problem with viruses is that they can be used to install servers into your nodes to give access to any information on the node including passwords to services on your server. For instance, if your nodes have email software such as outlook or outlook express with the password entered in so that they can receive mail periodically, that password will be available to someone who manages to hack into that node with something like backorifice. If that password is the same as the postgresql one or if the postgresql one is also saved into a configuration file on the node that will mean postgresql data will also be available. Depending on your network topology, without ensuring that your network nodes don't get viruses/trojans it will be very difficult to protect your data. You should use the SuSEfirewall in conjunction with protection for the nodes for effective protection of your data. Andy
>>>>>>>>>>>> Original Message <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
On 12/14/01, 1:02:15 PM, "Marios Marti"
Dear all
I am setting a server (running suse linux 7.1) and i will have the following services running: jakarta-tomcat-3.2.3 (html server) postgresql (database) ssh smtp That means ports 8080, 25, 22 and 5342 I believe the system is quite safe like this since im using the latest patches and all. The problem is that the system is lying in a network with quite a few viruses. So i was wondering if instead of installing antivirus software, im better off enabling the suse firewall and giving access only to the specified ports which are needed. Otherwise deny everything else. Will that solve my problem? (will the virus packets be rejected by the firewall).
Thanks Marios
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