Security audits with Lynis
Color Scheme
When you run Lynis, depending on the background color selected, the contrast of the console output can be too low, making the results difficult to read. To avoid this, start the application using the --reverse-colors
parameter. This tells the tool to adapt the output to light terminal backgrounds. Color highlighting can also be turned off completely with the parameter --no-colors
(Figure 3).
![](/var/linux_magazin/storage/images/issues/2023/266/lynis/figure-3/814490-1-eng-US/Figure-3_large.png)
Problems
By default, Lynis always saves the reports it generates in the /var/log/
directory, creating the lynis.log
and lynis-report.dat
files. If you need the test reports for documentation purposes over the long term, you should copy them to a separate data carrier or to another directory immediately after the test run. Otherwise, Lynis overwrites the existing logs on each new run without further ado.
Add-Ons
Thanks to its modular structure, Lynis can easily be extended with plugins to help you retrieve additional data from the systems you scan. Because Lynis's check routines consist of shell scripts, savvy administrators have the option of writing any plugins they need themselves. The developers provide detailed instructions for this [6].
Provided the plugins are explicitly enabled in the individual profiles, Lynis automatically processes any plugins you add during scans. By default, these extensions reside in the /usr/share/lynis/plugins/
directory. During a test run, they can be called at two phases; the results are displayed on the standard output and stored in the report file.
CISOfy also maintains a database of plugins that can be individually downloaded and integrated into a Lynis installation. However, to access these extensions, you first need to register with the provider and be an Enterprise customer.
« Previous 1 2 3 4 Next »
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
![Learn More](https://www.linux-magazine.com/var/linux_magazin/storage/images/media/linux-magazine-eng-us/images/misc/learn-more/834592-1-eng-US/Learn-More_medium.png)
News
-
NVIDIA Released Driver for Upcoming NVIDIA 560 GPU for Linux
Not only has NVIDIA released the driver for its upcoming CPU series, it's the first release that defaults to using open-source GPU kernel modules.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 24.07 Released
If you’re into rolling release Linux distributions, OpenMandriva ROME has a new snapshot with a new kernel.
-
Kernel 6.10 Available for General Usage
Linus Torvalds has released the 6.10 kernel and it includes significant performance increases for Intel Core hybrid systems and more.
-
TUXEDO Computers Releases InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen9 Laptop
Sporting either AMD or Intel CPUs, the TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 is an extremely compact, lightweight, sturdy powerhouse.
-
Google Extends Support for Linux Kernels Used for Android
Because the LTS Linux kernel releases are so important to Android, Google has decided to extend the support period beyond that offered by the kernel development team.
-
Linux Mint 22 Stable Delayed
If you're anxious about getting your hands on the stable release of Linux Mint 22, it looks as if you're going to have to wait a bit longer.
-
Nitrux 3.5.1 Available for Install
The latest version of the immutable, systemd-free distribution includes an updated kernel and NVIDIA driver.
-
Debian 12.6 Released with Plenty of Bug Fixes and Updates
The sixth update to Debian "Bookworm" is all about security mitigations and making adjustments for some "serious problems."
-
Canonical Offers 12-Year LTS for Open Source Docker Images
Canonical is expanding its LTS offering to reach beyond the DEB packages with a new distro-less Docker image.
-
Plasma Desktop 6.1 Released with Several Enhancements
If you're a fan of Plasma Desktop, you should be excited about this new point release.