Editing Exclusions in Time Machine

Note: Time Machine has default exclusion list that prevents it from backing up some important files in OSX Server. (Ref http://www.bill.eccles.net/bills_words/2008/08/designed-to-fail-apple-time-ma.html).

The file to edit to modify the exclusion list is as follows.

/System/Library/CoreServices/backupd.bundle/Contents/Resources/StdExclusions.plist
Update: Checked up on this in 10.6.3 and it seems that /var/spoool is now backed up. 

Security for OSX

The following document was found in the NSA site as an unclassified document. It serves as a good background to securing OSX an the various things to look out for.

Other interesting links includes

Interesting tools includes

  • weplab – cracking wep passwords
  • nmap – port scanning
  • tcpflow
  • MacStumber – scan wireless
  • EtherPeg – scan wireless for pictures
  • AirTraffic control – widget for wireless scanning
  • tcpdump – dump tcp traffic
  • john the ripper – password cracker
  • SNORT
  • HENWEN
  • Little snitch

The National Security Agency has good guidelines for Mac OSX. The security documents are available in PDF format on their OS Guides page for Mac OS X.