this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2025
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Hi there,

Win10 is soon not supported. Tbh Linux have been on my radar since I started to break from the US big tech.

But how is security handled in Linux? Linux is pretty open-source, or am I not understanding it correctly. So how can I as a new user make sure to have the most secure machine as possible?

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[–] muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 1 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

Windows has a lot of shit to second guess the user. Linux doesn’t. Linux doesn’t babysit you. It has some guardrails but the general idea with Linux is it’s your computer, it will do what you tell it do, even if it’s a bad idea. This makes things lighter, faster, more private, but it has also led to security incidents.

Windows and Mac will watch what you are doing. If they see something suspicious, the security software can jump in and telemetry means they can notice patterns as new malware appears on their users machines. This makes the machines slower and heavier and less private, but also easier for users to deal with because they doesn’t have to actually know anything. They can just buy their way out of a problem with superdupertotallaylegitantivirus2025pro.

Anyone who says Linux doesn’t get viruses is lying to you. It does. They all do. But it’s not that common because Linux is a smaller market share so most nefarious people won’t waste their time on a smaller target unless there is something that specific target has they want. So old people using fedora kinoite to access email and facebook are fine, but Pete Hegseth watching ignoring security practices and visiting shady sites is probably a worthwhile target and could be vulnerable.

Linux has major advantageous over the industry approach of “we know best” but it also has disadvantageous. If you are the kind of person who wants to learn and improve and grow, Linux could work for you. If you are more the irresponsible buy-someone-else’s-solution-to-my-problems type, it’s not.