Suggestions for the Security Onion LiveCD

I'm currently working on the next version of the Security Onion LiveCD. What specific packages/features would you like to see added to the Security Onion LiveCD? Post a comment here or contact me on Twitter. Thanks!

The Security Onion LiveCD is now available!

The Security Onion LiveCD is now available! You can download it from the following location:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/security-onion/

What is it?
The Security Onion LiveCD is a bootable CD that contains software used for installing, configuring, and testing Intrusion Detection Systems.

What software does it contain?
The Security Onion LiveCD is based on Xubuntu 9.04 and contains Snort 2.8.4.1, Snort 3.0.0b3 (Beta), sguil, idswakeup, nmap, metasploit, scapy, hping, fragroute, fragrouter, netcat, paketto, tcpreplay, and many other security tools.

What can it be used for?

• The Security Onion LiveCD can be used for Intrusion Detection. Simply boot the CD and double-click either the Snort-Sguil or SnortSP-Sguil desktop shortcuts. The Snort and Sguil daemons will then start, listening on eth0 for any suspicious traffic and creating alerts in the Sguil console.
• The Security Onion LiveCD can be used to test an Intrusion Detection System. Simply boot the CD and use the included tools (such as nmap, metasploit, idswakeup, scapy, hping, and others) to test your existing IDS or to test the included Snort 2.8.4.1 and Snort 3.0 Beta 3.
• The Security Onion LiveCD can be used to install an Intrusion Detection System. Simply boot the CD and double-click the Install desktop shortcut. For more information about installation, please see the README desktop shortcut.

You can read more about the Security Onion LiveCD (and, specifically, the integration of Snort 3.0 and Sguil) in my SANS GCIA Gold Paper "Snort 3.0 Beta 3 for Analysts".

Please take a look at the Security Onion LiveCD and let me know what you think!

* Special thanks to:

• Marty Roesch and the whole SourceFire team for all of their work these last 10 years to get Snort to where it is today.
  
• The Sguil team for the best open-source tool to manage Snort alerts.
  
• The SecurixLive crew for their awesome NSMnow installer, the easiest way to install and configure Snort/Sguil on Ubuntu Linux.
• Ubuntu (and Debian) for their well-made Linux distribution(s).
• The Reconstructor team for a very easy to use tool for remastering Ubuntu LiveCDs.
• All developers in the open-source community who work so hard and produce such amazing tools.
  

SANS 503 Mentor class is full

Registration is now closed for the previously mentioned SANS 503 Mentor class here in Augusta. This was the first SANS Mentor class to sell out in a few years! Thanks to all who registered.

Mentoring SANS 503

Starting in February, I'll be mentoring SANS 503: Intrusion Detection In-Depth. This class is extremely valuable for those who work with Intrusion Detection Systems such as Snort. Even if you have never used an IDS before, you will learn TCP/IP from an attacker's perspective, how to analyze packets using tcpdump, and how to configure Snort and write your own Snort rules.

Classes will be on Tuesday nights at Augusta State University from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM starting on February 17, 2009. Greater Augusta ISSA members will receive a 40% discount off the normal price. If you wish to become a member of the Greater Augusta ISSA or are already a member and would like the SANS discount code, please let me or one of the other chapter leaders know.

For more information about SANS 503, please see:
http://www.sans.org/mentor/details.php?nid=15354

My name is Doug Burks and I'm a GCIA

Back in April, I traveled to Orlando and took SANS 503 from the amazing Mike Poor. I then spent the next few months reviewing the course material, listening to Mike Poor MP3s, and taking practice exams. On September 5th, I took the real exam and passed with a 95! (I almost broke my arm patting myself on the back.) This certifies me at the GCIA Silver level. I'm now working on my research paper for GCIA Gold.