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You are reading Part 4 of the 57-part series: Harden and Secure Linux Servers. [Level 1]

This series covers progressive security measures, from fundamental hardening techniques to enterprise-grade defense strategies. Each article delves into a specific security practice, explaining its importance and providing step-by-step guidance for implementation.

To explore more security best practices, visit the main guide for a full breakdown of all levels and recommendations.

Software vulnerabilities are constantly discovered and exploited by attackers. Updates include security patches that fix known vulnerabilities, preventing hackers from exploiting weaknesses in your system. Keeping your Linux server updated is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to protect against cyber threats.

How to Keep Your Server Updated

  1. Manually update the system:

    • For Debian/Ubuntu:

      sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
    • For CentOS/RHEL:

      sudo yum update -y

    This ensures your system has the latest security fixes and package updates.

  2. Enable automatic security updates (for Ubuntu/Debian users):

    sudo apt install unattended-upgrades

    This allows the system to automatically apply critical security updates without manual intervention.

  3. Enable automatic updates on CentOS/RHEL:

    • Install the dnf-automatic package:

      sudo yum install dnf-automatic -y
    • Enable automatic updates:

      sudo systemctl enable --now dnf-automatic.timer
  4. Check for updates regularly:
    Even with automatic updates enabled, it's a good practice to manually check for updates from time to time, especially before making major changes to your system.

By keeping your server updated, you reduce the risk of security breaches, protect against exploits, and ensure your system is running the latest, most secure versions of software packages.

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