systemcheck Hardening

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systemcheck attack surface reduction.

Rationale Copy or share this direct link! Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Systemcheck_Hardening?stableid=88084#Rationale Click below ↴ = Copy to Clipboard Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [[Systemcheck_Hardening#Rationale|Rationale]]
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Although systemcheck already has AppArmor and systemd hardening, some marginal security benefits are gained by reducing: the number of network connections, the amount of code running, and unnecessary functionality. This is not the default configuration, since that would come at the cost of decreased usability for the entire Kicksecure population.

Hardening Steps Copy or share this direct link! Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Systemcheck_Hardening?stableid=88084#Hardening_Steps Click below ↴ = Copy to Clipboard Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [[Systemcheck_Hardening#Hardening_Steps|Hardening Steps]]
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Prevent Autostart Copy or share this direct link! Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Systemcheck_Hardening?stableid=88084#Prevent_Autostart Click below ↴ = Copy to Clipboard Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [[Systemcheck_Hardening#Prevent_Autostart|Prevent Autostart]]
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To prevent systemcheck from automatically starting, run.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! sudo systemctl mask systemcheck

Prevent Kicksecure Warrant Canary Check and User Census Counting Copy or share this direct link! Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Systemcheck_Hardening?stableid=88084#Prevent_Kicksecure_Warrant_Canary_Check_and_User_Census_Counting Click below ↴ = Copy to Clipboard Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [[Systemcheck_Hardening#Prevent_Kicksecure_Warrant_Canary_Check_and_User_Census_Counting|Prevent Kicksecure Warrant Canary Check and User Census Counting]]
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Refer to the following systemcheck chapters:

• Warrant Canary Check; and
• Disable Warrant Canary Check.

Prevent Polluting TransPort Copy or share this direct link! Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Systemcheck_Hardening?stableid=88084#Prevent_Polluting_TransPort Click below ↴ = Copy to Clipboard Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [[Systemcheck_Hardening#Prevent_Polluting_TransPort|Prevent Polluting TransPort]]
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This is applicable to Whonix only, which is a derivative of Kicksecure.

• This is only useful when running systemcheck --leak-tests. However, running this command with the Tor TransPort test disabled makes little sense; in that case it would be useful as a Tor SocksPort connectivity test.

Deactivate the TransPort Test for better Stream Isolation.

Open file /etc/systemcheck.d/50_user.conf in an editor with root rights.

• Kicksecure
• Kicksecure for Qubes
• Others and Alternatives

Kicksecure

See Open File with Root Rights for detailed instructions on why to use sudoedit for better security and how to use it.

Note: Mousepad (or the chosen text editor) must be closed before running the sudoedit command.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! sudoedit /etc/systemcheck.d/50_user.conf

Kicksecure for Qubes

NOTES:

• When using Kicksecure-Qubes, this needs to be done inside the Template.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! sudoedit /etc/systemcheck.d/50_user.conf

• After applying this change, shutdown the Template.
• All App Qubes based on the Template need to be restarted if they were already running.
• This is a general procedure required for Qubes and unspecific to Kicksecure for Qubes.

Others and Alternatives

• This is just an example. Other tools could achieve the same goal.
• If this example does not work for you or if you are not using Kicksecure, please refer to this link.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! sudoedit /etc/systemcheck.d/50_user.conf

Add the following content.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! SYSTEMCHECK_DISABLE_TRANS_PORT_TEST="1"

Save.

Prevent Running APT Copy or share this direct link! Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Systemcheck_Hardening?stableid=88084#Prevent_Running_APT Click below ↴ = Copy to Clipboard Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [[Systemcheck_Hardening#Prevent_Running_APT|Prevent Running APT]]
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Complete these steps on both Kicksecure and Kicksecure.

This prevents the running of APT by systemcheck.

Open file /etc/systemcheck.d/50_user.conf in an editor with root rights.

• Kicksecure
• Kicksecure for Qubes
• Others and Alternatives

Kicksecure

See Open File with Root Rights for detailed instructions on why to use sudoedit for better security and how to use it.

Note: Mousepad (or the chosen text editor) must be closed before running the sudoedit command.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! sudoedit /etc/systemcheck.d/50_user.conf

Kicksecure for Qubes

NOTES:

• When using Kicksecure-Qubes, this needs to be done inside the Template.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! sudoedit /etc/systemcheck.d/50_user.conf

• After applying this change, shutdown the Template.
• All App Qubes based on the Template need to be restarted if they were already running.
• This is a general procedure required for Qubes and unspecific to Kicksecure for Qubes.

Others and Alternatives

• This is just an example. Other tools could achieve the same goal.
• If this example does not work for you or if you are not using Kicksecure, please refer to this link.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! sudoedit /etc/systemcheck.d/50_user.conf

Add the following content.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! systemcheck_skip_functions+=" check_operating_system "

Prevent torproject.org Connections Copy or share this direct link! https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Systemcheck_Hardening?stableid=88084#Prevent_torproject.org_Connections Click below ↴ = Copy to Clipboard [[Systemcheck_Hardening#Prevent_torproject.org_Connections|Prevent torproject.org Connections]]
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Connections to The Tor Project are prevented by default, therefore no action is required.

systemcheck only connects to torproject.org if the command systemcheck --leak-tests is manually run.

Footnotes Copy or share this direct link! https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Systemcheck_Hardening?stableid=88084#Footnotes Click below ↴ = Copy to Clipboard [[Systemcheck_Hardening#Footnotes|Footnotes]]
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Kicksecure A secure by default operating system with the latest security research in place. Copy or share this direct link! Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Systemcheck_Hardening?stableid=88084 Click below ↴ = Copy to Clipboard Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [[Systemcheck_Hardening|systemcheck Hardening]]
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