this post was submitted on 16 Jan 2025
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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).

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I was recently intrigued to learn that only half of the respondents to a survey said that they used disk encryption. Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows have been increasingly using encryption by default. On the other hand, while most Linux installers I've encountered include the option to encrypt, it is not selected by default.

Whether it's a test bench, beater laptop, NAS, or daily driver, I encrypt for peace of mind. Whatever I end up doing on my machines, I can be pretty confident my data won't end up in the wrong hands if the drive is stolen or lost and can be erased by simply overwriting the LUKS header. Recovering from an unbootable state or copying files out from an encrypted boot drive only takes a couple more commands compared to an unencrypted setup.

But that's just me and I'm curious to hear what other reasons to encrypt or not to encrypt are out there.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

Yeah all my drives are encrypted with LUKS mostly because of home burglaries (bad area and whatnot). I still keep backups regardless on drives that are also encrypted

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

I always encrypt my computer SSD as well as my external backup drive. I just wish that when installing a Linux distro and when selecting encryption that it would work with multiple drives

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

Yes absolutely, it is the building block of my security posture. I encrypt because I don’t want thieves to have access to my personal data, nor do I want law enforcement or the state to have access if they were to raid my house. I’m politically active and a dissident so I find it vital to keep my data secure and private, but frankly everybody should be doing it for their own protection and peace of mind

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 days ago

Depends. On external drives yes. On internal boot drive no. I had performance issues and thermal issues with it so stopped on boot drives.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

No need as none of them are networked

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Do you physically crush and grind your drives once they are end-of-life?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I do not as I do not have any sensitive data and what data is sensitive are the digital documents which are securely encrypted by default via id card and its passwords.

If I start having something worth protecting I will turn on fedoras encryption. But until then anyone who manages to steal my 100 eur thinkpad and guess its password is welcome to try out linux and see if they like it I guess.

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[–] [email protected] -1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

I was recently intrigued to learn that only half of the respondents to a survey said that they used NO disk encryption.

Is the other half alright?

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[–] [email protected] -1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (4 children)

No. I prefer the quickest way to share my data between different computers and operating systems on my home network. I will also mention that my network is not accessible over the internet.

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[–] [email protected] -1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Because it requires generating, memorizing and entering a secure password. Because Linux typically doesn't support fingerprint readers or other biometrics.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

You can just store the key in your TPM and then you don't have to memorize anything.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

Is that near the TPS reports?

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