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266 lines
7.7 KiB
Markdown
266 lines
7.7 KiB
Markdown
<!--
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Title: How to setup hardened Ubuntu environment on Intel computer
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Description: Learn how to setup air-gapped and non-persistent Ubuntu environment running on Intel computer.
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Author: Sun Knudsen <https://github.com/sunknudsen>
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Contributors: Sun Knudsen <https://github.com/sunknudsen>
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Reviewers:
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Publication date: 2023-02-13T21:06:22.975Z
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Listed: true
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Pinned:
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-->
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# How to setup hardened Ubuntu environment on Intel computer
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## Requirements
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The following hardware is required.
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- Computer [compatible](https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop) with Ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS
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- USB flash drive (used to create Ubuntu for desktops bootable installer, 4GB min)
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- USB flash drive (used to install Ubuntu for desktops, 16GB min)
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## Recommendations
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Physically removing internal disk(s) and wireless interface(s) if not soldered to motherboard or disabling interface(s) using BIOS if soldered is recommended to strengthen data persistence and air gap hardening.
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Installing Ubuntu for desktops on [datAshur PRO²](https://istorage-uk.com/product/datashur-pro2/) USB flash drive is recommended to enforce access control, data persistence and tamper resistance hardening.
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## Bootable installer creation guide
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### Step 1: install [Raspberry Pi Imager](https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/)
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#### macOS
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Go to https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/, download and install Raspberry Pi Imager.
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#### Ubuntu (or other Debian-based OS)
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> Heads-up: depends on [Qt](https://www.qt.io/).
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```shell-session
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$ sudo add-apt-repository -y universe
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$ sudo apt install -y rpi-imager
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```
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### Step 2: disable Raspberry Pi Imager [telemetry](https://github.com/raspberrypi/rpi-imager#telemetry)
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#### macOS
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```shell-session
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$ defaults write org.raspberrypi.Imager.plist telemetry -bool NO
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```
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#### Ubuntu (or other Debian-based OS)
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```shell-session
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$ mkdir -p ~/.config/Raspberry\ Pi
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$ cat << "EOF" > ~/.config/Raspberry\ Pi/Imager.conf
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[General]
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telemetry=false
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EOF
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```
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### Step 3: download [Ubuntu for desktops](https://ubuntu.com/desktop)
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> Heads-up: for additional security, [verify](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/how-to-verify-ubuntu) Ubuntu for desktops download.
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Go to https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop and download Ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS.
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### Step 4: create Ubuntu for desktops bootable installer
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Open “Raspberry Pi Imager”, click “CHOOSE OS”, then “Use custom”, select Ubuntu for desktops `.iso`, click “CHOOSE STORAGE”, select USB flash drive and, finally, click “WRITE”.
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
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👍
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## Installation guide
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### Step 1 (optional): physically remove internal disk(s)
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### Step 2 (optional): initialize datAshur PRO² and enable bootable mode (see product [documentation](https://istorage-uk.com/product-documentation/) for instructions)
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### Step 3: insert both USB flash drives into computer
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### Step 4 (if applicable): enable “Secure Boot” and disable “Boot Order Lock”
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
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
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### Step 5: boot to Ubuntu for desktops bootable installer and select “Try or Install Ubuntu”
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
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### Step 6: connect Ethernet cable or connect to Wi-Fi network
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### Step 7: install Ubuntu
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#### Click “Install Ubuntu”
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
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#### Choose keyboard layout and click “Continue”
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
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#### Select “Minimal installation” and click “Continue”
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
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#### Select “Something else” and click “Continue”
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
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#### Delete all partitions on USB flash drive on which Ubuntu for desktops is being installed
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
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#### Create 512MB EFI partition on USB flash drive on which Ubuntu for desktops is being installed
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
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#### Create ext4 partition and set mount point to `/` on USB flash drive on which Ubuntu for desktops is being installed
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
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#### Choose “Device for boot loader installation” and click “Install now”
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
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#### Confirm changes about to be written to disk and click “Continue”
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> WARNING: make sure changes only apply to USB flash drive on which Ubuntu for desktops is being installed.
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
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#### Choose timezone and click “Continue”
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
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#### Choose credentials, select “Log in automatically” (optional) and click “Continue”
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
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#### Reboot
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## Configuration guide
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### Step 1: disable telemetry
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
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### Step 2: run `update-manager` and click “Install Now”
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
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### Step 3: reboot
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### Step 4 (if applicable): enable “Boot Order Lock”
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
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### Step 5 (optional): center new windows
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```shell-session
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$ gsettings set org.gnome.mutter center-new-windows true
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```
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### Step 6 (optional): enable dark mode
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```shell-session
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$ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface color-scheme prefer-dark
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$ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface gtk-theme Yaru-dark
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```
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### Step 7: disable auto-mount
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```shell-session
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$ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.media-handling automount false
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```
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### Step 8: add `universe` APT repository
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```shell-session
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$ sudo add-apt-repository -y universe
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```
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### Step 9: install `curl`, `libfuse2`, `overlayroot` and `zbar-tools`
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```shell-session
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$ sudo apt install -y curl libfuse2 overlayroot zbar-tools
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```
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### Step 10 (if applicable): download [Superbacked](https://superbacked.com/) and allow executing `superbacked.AppImage` as program
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#### Download Superbacked
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> Heads-up: replace `ABCDEFGH` with your license code.
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> Heads-up: for additional security, [verify](/faq/release-integrity) Superbacked download.
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```shell-session
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$ curl --fail --location --output ~/Desktop/superbacked.AppImage "https://superbacked.com/api/downloads/superbacked-std-x64-latest.AppImage?license=ABCDEFGH"
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```
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#### Allow executing `superbacked.AppImage` as program
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Right-click “superbacked.AppImage”, click “Properties”, click “Permissions” and, finally, select “Allow executing file as program”.
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
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### Step 11: set `ext4` and `vfat` filesystems to read-only
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```shell-session
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$ sudo sed -i 's/errors=remount-ro/errors=remount-ro,noload,ro/g' /etc/fstab
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$ sudo sed -i 's/umask=0077/umask=0077,ro/g' /etc/fstab
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```
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### Step 12: disable `fsck.repair`
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```shell-session
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$ sudo sed -i 's/quiet splash/quiet splash fsck.repair=no/g' /etc/default/grub
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$ sudo update-grub
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```
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### Step 13: set `overlayroot` to `tmpfs`
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```shell-session
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$ sudo sed -i 's/overlayroot=""/overlayroot="tmpfs"/g' /etc/overlayroot.conf
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```
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### Step 14: clear Bash history
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```shell-session
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$ history -cw
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```
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### Step 15: reboot
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> Heads-up: filesystem will be mounted as read-only following reboot.
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```shell-session
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$ sudo systemctl reboot
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```
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### Step 16: shutdown
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> Heads-up: filesystem is ready for optional hardware read-only hardening.
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```shell-session
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$ sudo systemctl poweroff
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```
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### Step 17 (optional): physically remove internal disk(s) and wireless interface(s) if not soldered to motherboard or disable interface(s) using BIOS if soldered
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
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### Step 18 (optional): enable datAshur PRO² global read-only (see product [documentation](https://istorage-uk.com/product-documentation/) for instructions)
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👍
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