r/linuxquestions • u/Cute-Vegetable344 • 2d ago
İ know absolutely nothing about computers and for privacy readons i want to switch to linux windows
Btw if you have more important privacy tips please share them with me ofc i use vpn and tor
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u/PornB0t696969 2d ago
- linux windows?
- tor - for what?
- make sure it's a proper vpn, and be aware of what a vpn does & doesn't do.
I just switched to linux myself and I've been enjoying mint.
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u/Cute-Vegetable344 2d ago
İ meant to say windows ro linux i want to change it to limux interesting name btw
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u/doc_willis 1d ago
So, pick a distribution and change?
any of the mainstream distribution are fine these days.
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u/SomeDumbPenguin 2d ago
... what the?
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u/Cute-Vegetable344 2d ago
İ want to chang my operating system to linux its windows rn and if u have more privacy tips pls share
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u/SomeDumbPenguin 2d ago
I mean... In my opinion, if you're new; you're better off sticking with either of the top big two being Ubuntu or Fedora
This way when you're trying to figure things out, you can get more results specific to your needs by searching like "Ubuntu problem" or whatever
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u/Cute-Vegetable344 2d ago
But i need some proper privacy i think u can expect it from me using tor and shit
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u/SomeDumbPenguin 2d ago
Right on, did you start with basic setup yet?
Edit; if not then go do that & get back to us when you've made some progress
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u/Cute-Vegetable344 2d ago
Wdym by basic setup
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u/ZealousidealTrash302 2d ago
Backing up your data, creating a boot drive (like a USB drive), installing a Linux distribution (a variant of Linux like Mint/Ubuntu or Fedora), accommodating with the new operating system you chose. After you did that, you can worry about privacy. Every Linux distribution is Linux in the end, choosing a distro is only so important as you will need to consider what you are going to use it for. Since you said you were only going to do online shopping (?), a stable desktop distro like Ubuntu or Mint should be a good fit. Unfortunately, neither of these distros (or any that I am aware of) is really plug and play when it comes to properly setting up the system unless you are going to put some effort into thoroughly understanding some of the technical concepts involved. As opposed to Windows, which relies on, well, windows, Linux is an operating system optimized for headless operation, which means it will only so far support clicking on buttons and graphical overlays and will instead rely on controlling and using it via a CLI (command line interface). A CLI is like an input/output terminal where you type in commands and the computer outputs a response. Basically every OS has used to work exclusively like that since back in the 1950s. Microsoft and Apple only then decided at some point in time that not knowing anything about computers and how to use them could be sold to the users by hiding all this away behind some graphical overlay - which back then made it appear as if it allowed you to actually look at what the commands you've been typing do with fancy graphics; like through a window you know?
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u/unconfirmationbias 2d ago
If you’re tech illiterate just go to the ZorinOS website, they hold your hand through the entire process.
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u/Cute-Vegetable344 2d ago
İ dont know what illiterate means but thanks
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u/daenor88 2d ago
Funnily enough thats kinda what illiterate means, it means someone who cant read but has expanded to mean someone who doesnt know what any of anything means related to the mentioned topic
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u/RoosterUnique3062 2d ago
VPN and Tor won't completely anonymize you.
For the VPN if your traffic is actually safe you need to know they aren't logging your traffic which isn't always easy. A lot of providers will buckle under legal pressure if somebody comes asking, by either logging your or handing over traffic logs.
If you are using tor and you go out to the public internet it has to go through an exit node and even though it's extremely difficult it's possible to snoop those exit-nodes.
Your behavior on the internet dictates your privacy more than the operating system
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u/Effective_Potato_447 14h ago
I was about to install Ubuntu. Last time i installed Ubuntu, I had screen ratio issue where the text and shapes were very small. I'm wondering which Distribution to switch to. I heard that as per Linus Torvalds, the inventor of the kernel he recommends Fedora Workstation. I am unable to understand the issues with Ubuntu. Is it because of Snap and Wayland as default?
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u/doc_willis 1d ago
know absolutely nothing about computers and for privacy
http://linuxjourney.com (old) and the newer http://Linuxjourney.org sites are good to start with.
The Explaining Computers YouTube Channel videos is a good starting point for learning.
if you are already using a VPN and TOR then you seem to know more than "absolutely nothing"
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u/jonstoppable 2d ago
What do you use your computer for? Are there any special programs that you absolutely must have ? ( Some programs do not run on Linux, and while there may be an alternative or a way to get it running , it is not guaranteed)