How and why to use MySQL mysql_secure_installation

This program enables you to improve the security of your MySQL installation

  • 1- Start the MySQL service.
  • [root@localhost .ssh]# /etc/init.d/mysqld start
    Starting mysqld:                                           [  OK  ]
  • 2- Use mysql_secure_installation to improve the security of your MySQL installation
  • When executed, the script prompts you to determine which actions to perform.

    [root@localhost .ssh]# /usr/bin/mysql_secure_installation
    
    NOTE: RUNNING ALL PARTS OF THIS SCRIPT IS RECOMMENDED FOR ALL MySQL
          SERVERS IN PRODUCTION USE!  PLEASE READ EACH STEP CAREFULLY!
    
    
    In order to log into MySQL to secure it, we'll need the current
    password for the root user.  If you've just installed MySQL, and
    you haven't set the root password yet, the password will be blank,
    so you should just press enter here.
    
    Enter current password for root (enter for none):
    OK, successfully used password, moving on...
    
    Setting the root password ensures that nobody can log into the MySQL
    root user without the proper authorisation.
    
    Set root password? [Y/n] Y
    New password:                            <<- set root password here
    Re-enter new password:                   <<- repeat the password
    Password updated successfully!
    Reloading privilege tables..
     ... Success!
    
    
    By default, a MySQL installation has an anonymous user, allowing anyone
    to log into MySQL without having to have a user account created for
    them.  This is intended only for testing, and to make the installation
    go a bit smoother.  You should remove them before moving into a
    production environment.
    
    Remove anonymous users? [Y/n] Y       <<-- Best to remove
     ... Success!
    
    Normally, root should only be allowed to connect from 'localhost'.  This
    ensures that someone cannot guess at the root password from the network.
    
    Disallow root login remotely? [Y/n] n        <<-- not really
     ... skipping.
    
    By default, MySQL comes with a database named 'test' that anyone can
    access.  This is also intended only for testing, and should be removed
    before moving into a production environment.
    
    Remove test database and access to it? [Y/n] Y   <<-- definitely you want to do this 
     - Dropping test database...
     ... Success!
     - Removing privileges on test database...
     ... Success!
    
    Reloading the privilege tables will ensure that all changes made so far
    will take effect immediately.
    
    Reload privilege tables now? [Y/n] Y    <<-- you should
     ... Success!
    
    Cleaning up...
    
    
    All done!  If you've completed all of the above steps, your MySQL
    installation should now be secure.
    
    Thanks for using MySQL!