Need suggestions for most secure open source OS

marknmtJanuary 28, 2016

Please suggest a very secure Linux OS for everyday use on my home laptop/desktop. Currently I'm using Kubuntu. What should I do to minimize the possibilities of breaches?

Thanks,

Mark

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Richard (Vero Beach, Florida)

I use Linux but I don't use it for security, I just like it. So I haven't given security much thought. As I understand it, Linux is relatively secure right out of the box.

I did attempt to "harden" my server a little, but only because it was exposed to incoming unsolicited packets. (At a minimum, port 80 had to be open to incoming traffic)

You're not running a server though, right? And you're probably behind a modem/router with built-in hardware firewall?

Personally, at least with my browsing (and software installing) habits, I feel relatively secure running any Linux distro.

If I do anything to mitigate risks, it's little things like:

I keep my machine updated.
I use a sufficiently strong random root password.

I don't have ports open that I don't need/want open.

I only install software from the repository unless I trust the source.

Even though I figure I can get by clicking most links/etc. that I maybe couldn't get by with in Windows... I still don't click them.

Hopefully someone else can help you more.

Like Save January 28, 2016 at 8:10PM Thanked by marknmt

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marknmt

Just a router. I mostly am concerned about the possibility of my brokerage accounts being hacked, or our debit transactions. I only open a site when I want to use it and don't leave it open after the transaction, but still.

My wife reads things that make her worry, so I try to get answers!

Thanks for your help.

Like Save January 29, 2016 at 3:27AM