Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
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Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
This is a legitimate question, please don't take offense. Just trying to understand why some say Linux Mint is not as secure as it could be. One developer told me Linux Mint uses out of date tool kits. I'm not smart enough to know if this is factual or not. So, in your opinion, is Linux Mint as secure as any other distribution?
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
it is true that LinuxMint is not as up-to-date as it could be.
& that's because it's designers want stability & usability,
not cutting edge programs.
if you, or anyone else, does want an Linux System, that is always up-to-date,
and has cutting edge programs, then there is indeed Linux Systems, that will do that.
but, this stability over progress, does not make the LinuxMint system any less secure.
& that's because it's designers want stability & usability,
not cutting edge programs.
if you, or anyone else, does want an Linux System, that is always up-to-date,
and has cutting edge programs, then there is indeed Linux Systems, that will do that.
but, this stability over progress, does not make the LinuxMint system any less secure.
Please edit your original post title to include [SOLVED] - when your problem is solved!
and DO LOOK at those Unanswered Topics - - you may be able to answer some!.
Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
Ask the same question about your house.
If it was as secure as it could be, you wouldn't be able to live in it. We all make compromises, but there are steps you can take to mitigate risk.
If it was as secure as it could be, you wouldn't be able to live in it. We all make compromises, but there are steps you can take to mitigate risk.
Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
Remember the saying "Would not do online banking on LM ...".
Was on PCLinuxOS at that time, a rolling release.
Was on PCLinuxOS at that time, a rolling release.
- catweazel
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Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
I don't recall that saying. You must've made it up. I have no issues banking online using Mint.k-314 wrote:Remember the saying "Would not do online banking on LM ...".
"There is, ultimately, only one truth -- cogito, ergo sum -- everything else is an assumption." - Me, my swansong.
Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
Linux Mint is really secure and for sure as secure as Ubuntu. They use the same repositories and therefore you have the same versions for all the software inside the repo.
This "Linux Mint is not secure" statement is FUD and was answered several times in the last years. Maybe you can start here: http://segfault.linuxmint.com/2013/11/a ... configure/
This "Linux Mint is not secure" statement is FUD and was answered several times in the last years. Maybe you can start here: http://segfault.linuxmint.com/2013/11/a ... configure/
Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
So, an Ubuntu developer told you that a competing product was less secure than his product. And you don't see anything wrong with that particular practice?skjones007 wrote:This is a legitimate question, please don't take offense. Just trying to understand why some say Linux Mint is not as secure as it could be. One developer told me Linux Mint uses out of date tool kits. I'm not smart enough to know if this is factual or not. So, in your opinion, is Linux Mint as secure as any other distribution?
Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
Any problems with my posts?catweazel wrote:You must've made it up.k-314 wrote:Remember the saying "Would not do online banking on LM ...".
https://www.golem.de/news/sicherheit-mi ... 02830.html
Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
When it comes to Updates, Stability and Security are sometimes inversely proportional. Meaning, here's how the basic reasoning goes...
1. Updating leads to better security, but it can break your system.
2. Not updating can prevent your system from breaking, but you're not as secure.
3. Mint wants to strike the balance, but leans more towards stability.
4. Based on Statements 1 & 3, Mint is not as secure as it could be.
Like it said, that's only the basic line of reasoning. It's not a universal view. But when they say Mint is not as secure as it could be, they just mean Mint tends to lay back on the updates.
1. Updating leads to better security, but it can break your system.
2. Not updating can prevent your system from breaking, but you're not as secure.
3. Mint wants to strike the balance, but leans more towards stability.
4. Based on Statements 1 & 3, Mint is not as secure as it could be.
Like it said, that's only the basic line of reasoning. It's not a universal view. But when they say Mint is not as secure as it could be, they just mean Mint tends to lay back on the updates.
Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
Every time I hear this gibberish I give my stock reply :-
" Paint me a picture of how a malicious attacker compromises a GNU/LInux system "
Describe the attack surface , and the imagined threat vector -
How would the malware give itself root privileges ?
....assuming the user is not so foolish as to habitually run Linux as root .
Now compare with Windows , where many users feel some deep compulsion to run as admin by default ,
rather than use the inherent protection of UAC .
There is some kind of psychological factor at work here ..... the Dunning-Kruger effect ?
Example : a survey by a motoring organization found that ~80% of drivers rated their driving skills
as " better than average " .... a self-evidently meaningless result !
There is also the added factor that malware creators want to target as many systems as possible , globally .
So their priorities , based on OS popularity , would naturally be MS followed by Apple , then Linux last .
I'm happy to do online banking with Linux ( but I run it from a Live USB when traveling , as an extra precaution ) .
" Paint me a picture of how a malicious attacker compromises a GNU/LInux system "
Describe the attack surface , and the imagined threat vector -
How would the malware give itself root privileges ?
....assuming the user is not so foolish as to habitually run Linux as root .
Now compare with Windows , where many users feel some deep compulsion to run as admin by default ,
rather than use the inherent protection of UAC .
There is some kind of psychological factor at work here ..... the Dunning-Kruger effect ?
Example : a survey by a motoring organization found that ~80% of drivers rated their driving skills
as " better than average " .... a self-evidently meaningless result !
There is also the added factor that malware creators want to target as many systems as possible , globally .
So their priorities , based on OS popularity , would naturally be MS followed by Apple , then Linux last .
I'm happy to do online banking with Linux ( but I run it from a Live USB when traveling , as an extra precaution ) .
Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
I'm not sure that Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be? is the right question to ask. In my view, the more relevant question is: Is Linux Mint as secure as I want/need it to be?
And my personal answer, based on (mostly other people's) experience, is certainly Yes it is.
I've been happily using Windows for 20 years and never ran into trouble even with that; since Mint is a lot safer than Windows, I feel plenty safe using it.
And my personal answer, based on (mostly other people's) experience, is certainly Yes it is.
I've been happily using Windows for 20 years and never ran into trouble even with that; since Mint is a lot safer than Windows, I feel plenty safe using it.
If your issue is solved, kindly indicate that by editing the first post in the topic, and adding [SOLVED] to the title. Thanks!
- Pjotr
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Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
Na klar.
You're bringing up something from more than three years ago, which was even incorrect at that time. Since then, Update Manager has been reworked extensively. In no way it can be compared to the Update Manager of 2014.
Among other things, these reworkings of Update Manager have had the expressly stated purpose of preventing even the flimsiest pretext for incorrect criticisms like that.
Klare Sache und damit hopp.
As to the question of the OP: I would like to add to the fine answers that you've already received, the assurance that I also regard Linux Mint as very secure. You might find this article interesting, that I've written about security in Linux Mint:
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinux ... t/security
Tip: 10 things to do after installing Linux Mint 21.3 Virginia
Keep your Linux Mint healthy: Avoid these 10 fatal mistakes
Twitter: twitter.com/easylinuxtips
All in all, horse sense simply makes sense.
Keep your Linux Mint healthy: Avoid these 10 fatal mistakes
Twitter: twitter.com/easylinuxtips
All in all, horse sense simply makes sense.
Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
...but there is a slight difference between "make something up" and "bring something up".Pjotr wrote: Na klar.
Besides, that sentence stuck to my mind, but you see me here now
br KH
- Pjotr
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Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
Ebenfalls klar. Es lebe der kleine Unterschied.k-314 wrote:...but there is a slight difference between "make something up" and "bring something up".Pjotr wrote: Na klar.
("Long live the small difference").
Tip: 10 things to do after installing Linux Mint 21.3 Virginia
Keep your Linux Mint healthy: Avoid these 10 fatal mistakes
Twitter: twitter.com/easylinuxtips
All in all, horse sense simply makes sense.
Keep your Linux Mint healthy: Avoid these 10 fatal mistakes
Twitter: twitter.com/easylinuxtips
All in all, horse sense simply makes sense.
Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
What's the name of this developer with whom you're talking?
Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
No distro is a secure as it could be that includes the one that Developer works for.
All security is a trade off, minimize the threat balanced by stability of the system.
For best protection unplug the computer from the World Wide web. If you have to use the web. use caution.
Most attackers take advantage of human error. Weak passwords etc.
This topic has been beat to death in recent years. As Linux grows in market share more and more un savory chaps are likely to to pay more attention to it's weak points. fortunately most real security threats are found out rather quickly and patched the soon after discovery.
I won't loose any sleep over this in mint. But do take prudent step to be as secure as possible.
All security is a trade off, minimize the threat balanced by stability of the system.
For best protection unplug the computer from the World Wide web. If you have to use the web. use caution.
Most attackers take advantage of human error. Weak passwords etc.
This topic has been beat to death in recent years. As Linux grows in market share more and more un savory chaps are likely to to pay more attention to it's weak points. fortunately most real security threats are found out rather quickly and patched the soon after discovery.
I won't loose any sleep over this in mint. But do take prudent step to be as secure as possible.
Easy tips : https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.com/ Pjotr's Great Linux projects page.
Linux Mint Installation Guide: http://linuxmint-installation-guide.rea ... en/latest/
Registered Linux User #462608
Linux Mint Installation Guide: http://linuxmint-installation-guide.rea ... en/latest/
Registered Linux User #462608
Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
I agree. This board is becoming troll city.catweazel wrote:I don't recall that saying. You must've made it up. I have no issues banking online using Mint.k-314 wrote:Remember the saying "Would not do online banking on LM ...".
For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong - H. L. Mencken
Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
I've never heard of that saying. Someone may very well have said that once, but people say so many things. That doesn't make it a 'saying' and it certainly doesn't make it true.k-314 wrote:Remember the saying "Would not do online banking on LM ...".
If your issue is solved, kindly indicate that by editing the first post in the topic, and adding [SOLVED] to the title. Thanks!
Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
I don't. Links please or you made it up.k-314 wrote:Remember the saying "Would not do online banking on LM ..."
- Portreve
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Re: Is Linux Mint as secure as it could be?
Remember the saying, “k-314 owes Moem and Portreve a million bucks each”?Moem wrote:I've never heard of that saying. Someone may very well have said that once, but people say so many things. That doesn't make it a 'saying' and it certainly doesn't make it true.k-314 wrote:Remember the saying "Would not do online banking on LM ...".
I seem to remember hearing that around here somewhere...
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Recommended keyboard layout: English (intl., with AltGR dead keys)
Podcasts: Linux Unplugged, Destination Linux
Also check out Thor Hartmannsson's Linux Tips YouTube Channel