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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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Linux security (feddit.dk)

submitted 13 hours ago by UheldigeBenny@feddit.dk to c/linux@lemmy.ml

41 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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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[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 20 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

Microsoft being closed source hides their bugs and vulnerabilities. Even when security researchers have sent in reports MS has sat on them due to profit being motive not security, and not taking vulners seriously until the researchers say screw that and publish it.

Linux being open can have all eyes on it, and if there is an exploit, there is a community willing to help ASAP.

On many distros you may have weekly or even daily updates or patches coming through with fixes. A distro like OpenSUSE has various patch and list patch commands that show what security patches are avilailable, their status (critical, recommended) and if it's needed on your system or not depending on what you have installed. You don't get transparency on closed source systems.

If you are paranoid about security you can use AppArmor tools or SELinux. AppArmor can be set to learn how an app behaves, then you lock it so the app can't do new things.

SELinux you set rules for files and folders, so even with remote access an attacker can't access data if rules don't allow file listing over SSH etc