I want to know what Linux is and what it is used for

kadd

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I am 17 years old (17 days later 18) and I have been interested in computers, internet since I was 10 years old, I have only used windows all my life and now I want to learn linux (linux models). there are data leaks, attacks and similar events every day in my country. I want to know how they work and what they are made through.
thanks
 


Welcome kadd. Linux is, for the most part, an open source and free to download and use operating system for computers. It is the result of countless hours of effort from a huge number of people to provide humanity with a nice Unix like operating system that puts the computer user in charge of their own computer, instead of being forced to let some big tech company manage and control your computer. It gives you access to the "nuts and bolts" level to let you fine tune your system to do what you want it do do rather than telling you to mind your own business and just let it work, the way Windows and Mac both do. Linux respects your privacy while Windows and Mac just don't. In fact, the software license for Windows requires the user to let microsoft access and manage your computer the way they see fit and if you don't like it you're not even allowed to use it.

There are many different Linux distributions. There are some main ones and many others that are based on them. Linux Mint is quite a popular choice among many of the users on this forum. I'm using Debian at present, and it's kind of buggy. I've been wanting to switch over to Kali for a while now, but I'll need to wait until I can replace my hard drive first. I use KDE for a graphical environment. I did my homework and decided to use it instead of Gnome or XFCE. What you use is entirely up to you.

Linux does have a learning curve, which means it requires you to know quite a bit about it to get everything the way you want it which is why forums like this one exist. We're here to help you on your journey. Please feel free to ask your questions here, after making a reasonable effort to learn on your own part first. We look forward to helping you.

Signed,

Matthew Campbell
 
there are data leaks, attacks and similar events every day in my country. I want to know how they work and what they are made through.
G'day kadd, Welcome to Linux.org

Happy Birthday for 17 days time !

Data leaks are a big subject. To put it simply, companies do not secure the information they hold sufficiently, and "bad actors" are able to access it and make use of it...usually by selling the information to equally bad people who use it to extract money from the original owners of that data....usually just ordinary people.

Entering information of yours......date of birth, licence number, address, full name, makes up a magic collection for these people.....because if they have that info they can "use" your identity. I have been aware of a friend of mine who lost/had stole...that info.....the person who stole it invebnted another person using those details.....and then applied for credit cards etc etc....used the cards to obtain cash and then disappeared. meanshilw the original owner of that data/details was receiving all the mail/communication from te credit card companies asking for payment.

Linux. simple...it is an operating system, more secure than windows, it allows you to do much the same things that you do on windows already

It uses a browser (Firefox, Chrome etc etc ) to access things (same as windows) but it is in the way that the Linux system operates that makes it safer. What is needed is an equal effort on your part to keep it that way.

It has a learning curve, just like anything in this life. I have found the learning to be very worthwhile.

I have achieved that learning by doing...practising, ....navigating my way around Linux Mint.
I have "broken " it on several occasions....but this has taught me what NOT to do

The really nice thing is....Linux is FREE. All of its apps/programs....,.are free. Linux will NOT run windows programs....they are a different file system...windows uses .exe's while Linux uses ext4's etc

Windoiws has a huge share of the pc market....well above 80%
Linux's share is around ~5%

This actually works in favour of Linux, ....the malware/thieves etc etc generally leave linux alone....the system is almost impossible to hack into/very difficult to hack.......whereas windows is considered fairly easy.....so the thieves concentrate on windows.

There is a lot to learn. If it gets your interest, you will find plenty of help here.

Sometimes, patience is required. Because this is an international site, the times that people are online varies widely. In Australia right now it is mid morning, whereas in USA (roughly) it is around 6 - 7 PM

You will also get opinions here that vary a lot. That is because this is Linux....and Linux is all about Freedom and Choice

Yes, I talk a lot !
 
Linux is just the kernel. That is, the scheduler and man-in-the-middle, between you and the hardware.

This is (generally speaking) surrounded with some tools from GNU. These provide functionality.

There's more - like a desktop environment and window manager - but that's outside the scope of your question. I will add that different folks have configured these tools differently, adding their own software choices as defaults, and these create the separate distros. There are many of them so you'll not want for choices.
 
Look into Linus Torvald and Richard Stallman, that will give you a better understanding of why it exists and why people use it. Linus built the first kernel, and Stallman helped design linux/unix tools and helped create linux standards.

Basically, linux is this:

/: The root directory, this is the folder than contains all the other folders.

home: this is the main directory for linux users, contains terminal settings, and all the standard folders you see in windows (Documents, Music, etc...). A lot of program settings and data tend to get installed here as well, but this is the folder you are supposed to have fun with and have total control over.

bin: stands for "binary", contains all the programs that are basic to linux.

sbin: stands for "system binaries", similar to the bin folder

boot: contains boot settings etc.

etc: contains a lot of settings

mnt: contains mountpoints for devices you plug into the main computer (like your phone, flash drives, etc.)

opt: stands for "optional software"

usr: contains libraries (basically, data and functions used by programs), more programs, and sometimes source code.

There are a lot more folders (and i don't understand all of what they do), but those are some basic ones to get you started.

Reasons why people prefer linux to Windows/Apple:

-since it's open source, you can often get it for free (linux users tend to frown upon people who guard their computing secrets like a pitbull)

-linux file systems tend to be small and don't contain bloatware, which means they are normally faster.

-since it's open source, you can figure out how the software works if you are a programmer.
 
There are over 500 Linux Distros (operating systems). Linux powers the biggest Computers in the world.

my advice?.... Linux Mint. (it has more support than any other distro)
 
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I mentioned up above, Linux Mint

Linux Mint has three flavours, or DE's...desktop environments.

Cinnamon, Mate, and XFCE

Which one to use ?...your choice, plus the specs of your pc will also have input...ram, cpu and other things.

When you boot the pc to Linux....the DE (desktop will be the first thing you see.....it can have a pic put on it or all sorts of decoration to make it look better and also to suit your tastes.

Cinnamon is regarded as being the 'flagship', it is also the 'heaviest'...it consumes more ram

Mate is in the middle.....not as heavy,

and XFCE, which is regarded as the quickest and lightest.
 
Linux is a Kernel based operating system with over 500 desktop/laptop builds plus hundreds of specialist builds, you probably use it every day without knowing, smart home appliances [TV/Washing Machine. Coffee maker & etc] often have embedded Linux systems, many modern cars & trucks, fly-by-wire airliners, and smart weapons again largely use a Linux embedded system,
with Linux, you have full control of your machine and OS, Linux is also customisable, don't like the desktop environment on your distribution, then change it, don't like the mail server or web browser, then change them, with Windows you have two choices use what they give you or don't use windows, Linux has multiple applications for everyday use including as I said a choice of desktop [around 8] mail servers [around 10] web browsers [around 8].
Windows, Apple, Android, and Linux are all operating systems, all do basically the same job, but all are different in the way they work,.
Coming from windows you will be used to point and click computing, if this is what you want, then there are many distributions [different builds] that can operate in that fashion, but learning even the basics of terminal controls will enhance your experience, or become a purest and only use terminal commands, it's your choice

you have a security issue, so let's be honest, Linux is inherently more secure than Windows, [most of us do not use Antivirus just a firewall], The weakest link in any system is located between the seat back and key pad, bad practice will leave any system open to attack.
 
Now I have more time..
If you want to try Linux, then read

from the way you made your first post, i am a bit worried you may want to jump straight into a specialist pen-testing [hacking] distribution, this is not a good idea, as all of them [8 or so different ones] expect you to have a good working knowledge of Linux and be competent at using the terminal,

if you just want a home desktop Linux with a little more security then try Parrot or MX-linux, or if you are a paranoid you could try running Linux from a USB pen-drive, a good one for this would be tails [but check the documentation first to see if your machine meets the required performance] IN fact whatever distribution you wish to try/use Please make sure you read and understand all the documents for that build [link to doc's usually can be found on the distribution download page]

Welcome aboard, and if you're staying, sit back, kick off your shoes,grab a drink and, enjoy the ride.
 
Hello @kadd
Welcome to the Linux. org forum, enjoy the journey! You have already received many good suggestions and will keep you busy for awhile reading for a short history of Linux go here.
and here for more in depth learning.
Hope this helps and you will join in the Linux fun.
 
There are many Youtube videos about Linux, including quite a few intro courses.
Also check out edx and search for Linux courses.
 
You are at the ideal part of your life to start with Linux and tech in general and you have every advantage to be a wizard in a very short time. With pretty cheap devices available everywhere, tons of guides and documentation, YouTube, cloud computing and AI, you have it made.

Coming from windows as I have, I would go with the same OS many have recommended, Linux Mint is just amazing. It's everything windows should have been, except better. It's my "daily driver". I use several other distros as live environments or virtual machines for testing and learning depending on what I'm trying to do.

If I could start all over at 18 knowing what I know now, a $500 laptop, and a phone capable of being easily Rooted (Google pixel or OnePlus) is pretty much all you will need to have for years of learning and entertainment.

Gaming PCs and consoles are things I would have never spent money on, at the technological level we are at today. Many people say they use windows because of gaming.... I can tell you, cloud gaming is better and cheaper than most very high end systems can deliver and you can access it on very low level hardware, all while running Linux, the OS is irrelevant.

Same with cloud computing. It's inexpensive, and you can do the same work with a good internet connection as a person with a high end Mac etc can do, but you could do it on a dinky little Chromebook. (I don't recommend Chromebooks at all though. Much better to have a true Laptop)

Enjoy your journey, and you are definitely in the right place!
 

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