Installing lynis on Ubuntu 24

Lynis is a powerful security auditing, compliance testing, and system hardening tool designed for Linux and Unix-based systems, commonly used during Lynis Installation on Ubuntu 24 assess and improve server security.

• Detects security misconfigurations
• Audits system services, kernel, users, and permissions
• Generates a security score
• Provides clear remediation tips
• Works without agents or background services

Lynis Installation on Ubuntu

Ubuntu includes Lynis in its official repositories, making this the simplest and safest method.

1: Enable Universe Repository

sudo add-apt-repository universe
sudo apt update

2: Install Lynis

sudo apt install lynis -y

3: Verify Installation

lynis --version

Basic Audit Command

sudo lynis audit system

Lynis will:

• Scan your system
• Highlight warnings and suggestions
• Assign a hardening index

Understanding Lynis Output

After the scan, you’ll see:

1. Hardening Index

Example:

Hardening index : 68

• 0–50 → Poor security
• 50–70 → Needs improvement
• 70–90 → Good
• 90+ → Excellent

2. Warnings

Warnings indicate high-risk security issues:

WARNING: No firewall is active

These should be addressed immediately.

3. Suggestions

Suggestions are best-practice improvements:

SUGGESTION: Enable auditd service

Viewing Lynis Reports

Lynis stores reports locally for later review

Report Location

/var/log/lynis.log
/var/log/lynis-report.dat

To view:

sudo less /var/log/lynis.log

Lynis is a powerful yet lightweight security auditing tool that every Ubuntu 24.04 administrator should use. With minimal setup, it gives deep insights into system security and helps you harden your server effectively. Whether you manage a VPS, cloud instance, or production server, Lynis should be part of your security workflow. By making Lynis audits a regular habit, you significantly reduce your attack surface and stay one step ahead of potential security threats.

Installing and configuring security auditing tools like Lynis is a critical step in hardening your Ubuntu 24 server. If you need assistance with Lynis Installation on Ubuntu 24, security audits, or ongoing monitoring, our expert team is here to help.

At Skynats, we offer reliable Server Management services that include Linux server hardening, vulnerability assessments, performance optimization, and proactive security management. Whether you’re managing a single server or a complex infrastructure, we ensure your systems remain secure, compliant, and optimized.