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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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Installing Linux: Am I paranoid or responsible? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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For me, it's not enough to verify the integrity of an ISO -- I also have to verify its authenticity (or at least verify the checksum file) with GPG. I don't know why, but just need to see that "Good signature" message before I feel safe installing Linux.

I notice, though, that the download pages of some prominent distros (Pop_OS!, openSUSE, etc) just give you a checksum, probably because they feel that anything else is unnecessary. This makes me shy away from installing them, which is a shame because I'd like to give some of those distros a try on bare metal.

Am I being paranoid when it comes to installing Linux?

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

There's no relation whatsoever been the website certificate and the files it serves. And anyway the ISOs are downloaded from somewhere else like an FTP site, not from the website.

There have been cases where a breach that added malware to downloads went unnoticed for quite a while.

GPG signing with a key that's already be published and distributed in advance is the only really secure option.