/etc/tripwire Tripwire uses a policy file to determine which files integrity are checked. The default policy file (twpol.txt found in /etc/tripwire/) is for a default installation of Redhat 7.0 and is woefully outdated. Policy files are also a custom thing and should be tailored to each individual distro and/or installation. Some custom policy files can be found below: Checks integrity of all files Custom policy file for Base LFS 3.0 system Custom policy file for SuSE 7.2 system Download the custom policy file you'd like to try, copy it into /etc/tripwire/, and use it instead of twpol.txt. It is, however, recommended that you make your own policy file. Get ideas from the examples above and read /usr/share/doc/tripwire/policyguide.txt. twpol.txt is a good policy file for beginners as it will note any changes to the filesystem and can even be used as an annoying way of keeping track of changes for uninstallation of software. After your policy file has been transferred to /etc/tripwire/ you may begin the configuration steps: twadmin -m P /etc/tripwire/twpol.txt && tripwire -m i During configuration tripwire will create 2 keys: a site key and a local key which will be stored in /etc/tripwire/. To use tripwire after this and run a report using the following command: tripwire -m c > /etc/tripwire/report.txt View the output to check the integrity of your files. An automatic integrity report can be produced by using fcron. Please note that after you run an integrity check, you must check the report or email and then modify the tripwire database of the files on your system so that tripwire will not continually notify you that files you intentionally changed are a security violation. To do this you must first ls /var/lib/tripwire/report/ and note the name of the newest file which starts with linux- and ends in .twr. This encrypted file was created during the last report creation and is needed to update the tripwire database of your system. Then, type in the following command making the appropriate substitutions for '?': tripwire -m u -r /var/lib/tripwire/report/linux-???????-??????.twr You will be placed into vim with a copy of the report in front of you. If all the changes were good, then just type :x and after entering your local key, the database will be updated. If there are files which you still want to be warned about, please remove the x before the filename in the report and type :x. If you are unhappy with your policy file and would like to modify it or use a new one, modify the policy file and then execute the following commands: twadmin -m P /etc/tripwire/twpol.txt && tripwire -m i