rkhunter (Rootkit Hunter) is a
Unix
Unix (; trademarked as UNIX) is a family of multitasking, multiuser computer operating systems that derive from the original AT&T Unix, whose development started in 1969 at the Bell Labs research center by Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, an ...
-based tool that scans for
rootkit
A rootkit is a collection of computer software, typically malicious, designed to enable access to a computer or an area of its software that is not otherwise allowed (for example, to an unauthorized user) and often masks its existence or the exis ...
s,
backdoors and possible local
exploits. It does this by comparing
SHA-1 hashes of important files with ''known good'' ones in online databases, searching for default directories (of rootkits), wrong permissions, hidden files, suspicious strings in
kernel module
In computing, a loadable kernel module (LKM) is an object file that contains code to extend the running kernel, or so-called ''base kernel'', of an operating system. LKMs are typically used to add support for new hardware (as device drivers) and/o ...
s, and special tests for
Linux
Linux ( or ) is a family of open-source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged as a Linux distribution, w ...
and
FreeBSD. rkhunter is notable due to its inclusion in popular operating systems (Fedora, Debian,
etc.)
The tool has been written in
Bourne shell, to allow for
portability. It can run on almost all UNIX-derived systems.
Development
In 2003, developer Michael Boelen released the version of Rootkit Hunter. After several years of development, early 2006, he agreed to hand over development to a development team. Since that time eight people have been working to set up the project properly and work towards the much-needed maintenance release. The project has since been moved to
SourceForge
SourceForge is a web service that offers software consumers a centralized online location to control and manage open-source software projects and research business software. It provides source code repository hosting, bug tracking, mirroring ...
.
See also
*
chkrootkit
*
Lynis
Lynis is an extensible security audit tool for computer systems running Linux, FreeBSD, macOS, OpenBSD, Solaris, and other Unix derivatives. It assists system administrators and security professionals with scanning a system and its security de ...
*
OSSEC
*
Samhain (software)
Samhain is an integrity checker and host intrusion detection system that can be used on single hosts as well as large, UNIX-based networks. It supports central monitoring as well as powerful (and new) stealth features to run undetected in memor ...
*
Host-based intrusion detection system comparison Comparison of host-based intrusion detection system components and systems.
Free and open-source software
As per the Unix philosophy a good HIDS is composed of multiple packages each focusing on a specific aspect.
Proprietary software
Proprie ...
*
Hardening (computing)
In computer security, hardening is usually the process of securing a system by reducing its surface of vulnerability, which is larger when a system performs more functions; in principle a single-function system is more secure than a multipurpose ...
*
Linux malware
Linux malware includes viruses, Trojans, worms and other types of malware that affect the Linux family of operating systems. Linux, Unix and other Unix-like computer operating systems are generally regarded as very well-protected against, but ...
*
MalwareMustDie
MalwareMustDie, NPO is a whitehat security research workgroup that was launched in August 2012. MalwareMustDie is a registered nonprofit organization as a medium for IT professionals and security researchers gathered to form a work flow to reduce ...
*
Rootkit
A rootkit is a collection of computer software, typically malicious, designed to enable access to a computer or an area of its software that is not otherwise allowed (for example, to an unauthorized user) and often masks its existence or the exis ...
References
External links
*
Old rkhunter web page
Computer security software
Unix security-related software
Rootkit detection software
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