Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?

[k-314]

Remember the saying "Would not do online banking on LM ..."

I don't. Links please or you made it up.

The link https://www.golem.de/news/sicherheit-mi ... 02830.html is there for those, who can read.

And we do have google translate, don't we?

[killer de bug]

It has already been discussed and explained that the opinion of a Ubuntu dev about something he was unaware of is not interesting.
Time has already been lost to explain why he was wrong. I don't see any point in starting all over again.

Please read this: http://segfault.linuxmint.com/2016/09/addressing-fud/ and this: http://segfault.linuxmint.com/2016/09/a ... ent-347381

[k-314]

... might be better to place a screenshot of that webpage here, so the talk of "me making that up" stops.

OK, Pjotr, has a point, that was in 2013, so a bit outdated, but I did not start with Linux right now and that statement stuck in my mind ....

[Moem]

A bit outdated, and already untrue when it was said. Yes, we can safely stop talking about that statement now.

[Penn]

Remember the saying "Would not do online banking on LM ...".

OK, Pjotr, has a point, that was in 2013, so a bit outdated, but I did not start with Linux right now and that statement stuck in my mind ....

There is a HUGE difference between "a saying" and "statement stuck in my mind".

False equivalencies are damaging to the open source community as a whole (and in the "real world" it has even created war).

I've seen in reader comments on tech news sites and even on this forum. Long time Linux user who thinks using a command line makes a mere mortal a god doesn't realize things such as updating a kernel is intended to be done through the GUI update manager in Mint so therefore security updates aren't available. ALL Ubuntu (and Debian for us LMDE users) base updates are available to Mint and, at least as long as I have used it, always have been. If Mint is not secure then neither is Ubuntu and Debian.

[Moem]

There is a HUGE difference between "a saying" and "statement stuck in my mind".

That's true, but let's keep in mind that this is an international forum, English is not everyones first language, and mistakes happen easily.

[MintBean]

Whilst language barriers may lead to misunderstanding, these allegations (whether intended or not) do need to be refuted because they can gain traction amongst the hysterical and that's not good for Mint. One article does not make something "a saying."

[Penn]

There is a HUGE difference between "a saying" and "statement stuck in my mind".

That's true, but let's keep in mind that this is an international forum, English is not everyones first language, and mistakes happen easily.

I know it is an international forum and I do keep that in mind. However, I know how much of English derives from Germanic languages especially these types of phrases (maybe not this individual one but many) and have known many people whose first language was German. My understanding is Germans usually have a strong grasp on this particular nuance since it seems to exist in that language too. I could be wrong in this situation so I hope it is understood that no offense was meant.

Whilst language barriers may lead to misunderstanding, these allegations (whether intended or not) do need to be refuted because they can gain traction amongst the hysterical and that's not good for Mint. One article does not make something "a saying."

Agreed. That is what was primarily on my mind in my response.

[Pjotr]

However, I know how much of English derives from Germanic languages

English essentially is a Germanic language, riddled with badly pronounced French words. No offense meant: Dutch has its portion of badly pronounced French as well.... A bit less of that, because in our case the French occupation lasted a bit shorter.

[xenopeek]

So, in your opinion, is Linux Mint as secure as any other distribution?

When a user first runs Update Manager (or any time thereafter) they must select an update policy. The default selected, and recommended, update policy is to always install all security updates. Linux Mint is an Ubuntu based distribution. So yes, Linux Mint is as secure as any other Ubuntu based distribution as it gets the same security updates.

[Voxel]

If you want a "reasonably secure" mint, just run mint in Qubes (along with whatever other OS's you want) : https://www.qubes-os.org/
Tails is good when your out and about : https://tails.boum.org/