this post was submitted on 09 Oct 2023
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Linux
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Never trust the OS that ships with a device. Wipe it, format the disk, and pray that they don't have a backdoor at the bios level.
This is nonsense. TuxedoOS and Pop!_OS are awesome and ethical.
I think the point is that it's better to install it yourself from a trustworthy source, so you know there are no hidden extras.
if the manufacturer of the device itself isnt trustworthy everything you do to try and make the device "trustworthy" is futile because OEMs could not just implement backdoors at the software level, but firmware or even hardware level.
That's true. It only protects you against a manufacturer who half-asses it by including bloatware/malware that isn't automatically reinstalled after you reinstall the OS. My own desktop PC has an Asus motherboard that installs Asus software into Windows automatically. I don't like this trend, but I'd be surprised if they do the same for Linux.
That is a completely different statement than the original comment.
Lol that's absolutely not true
Apologies if i wasnt clear there, but the point I intended to convey was indeed that you should only use an OS that you yourself have installed, to ensure that it hasnt been shipped with any bloatware or backdoors.
Hardware manufacturers have been doing it for years with modified windows installs, and I see no reason to beleieve they aren't trying the same thing with Linux installs.
Thanks for the clarification!
Companies love to install backdoors and proprietary software for drivers that act suspiciously like spyware, it's their favorite past time. So while the OS may be trustworthy the additional software they install is not.
That is a completely different statement than the original comment.
Still absolutely not true
That's something a Fed would say you glowie.
Basically true. Heads people say you should also reflash the Bios