Moment of Truth?

[koko]

Hi Gang:

For 3 years now, I have run my home network through a DOS box (386SX) using Dave Mischler's IPRoute on DOS 6.22.  I have considered it an effective firewall due to the fact that it is DOS and I believe that the general threat is from script kiddies looking for an operating system they understand.  Perhaps naive, but nothing has happened to me.  If I need to be set straight, let me know.  I don't have anything really valuable inside, no home business or anything, just several machines for the boys, wife and my mixed bag of Linux, W2K, NT and W98 that I try to learn from.  The 386 went down and I need a new gateway.  The most likely prospect is my recently installed RH 7.2.  I will read the Steps/HOWTOs on firewalls, IPchains, IPTables etc., I promise.  In the meantime, are there any immediate steps I can or should take if I use my RH 7.2 box as gateway?   I fully understand how to enable the RH machine to act as the gateway, and know command lines better than RH GUI operations.  But I've never set up any firewalls or filters with Linux.  I'm ready to educate myself with HOWTOs and Steps but thought it would be prudent to ask if I should do something now.  

I received my access via cable modem (Toshiba 1100U) to DOS box, thence to Linksys Etherfast 10/100 Workgroup Switch, thence to my home network via CAT V cable.  

If I'm relatively safe until I can RTFM on IPTables and firewalls, thats fine.  I'd just appreciate the advice.

Parenthetically, I haven't attempted to crack other machines, as others are apparently willing to try to do to mine.  Is there a site or Steps that tells me how I can experiment with my home network? I keep hearing how easy it is to get into MS machines.  So, using my RH 6.2 or RH 7.2 boxes, where can I find information on how to exploit or highlight the vulnerabilities on my network, whether Linux to MS machines, Linux to Linux etc?

Kirk


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