I recently wiped the NVMe drive on my Lenovo laptop and installed the latest version of Ubuntu, hoping for a fresh start. However, I'm facing a strange issue: every time I try to use the terminal, a new window keeps popping up. This has made it really difficult to work. To give you some background, I've been dealing with what I suspect is unauthorized access to my devices by someone I know, an IT admin. I've reported this person to the authorities. Over the past year, they've managed to max out my storage, change passwords, and even remotely access my desktop. After a lot of frustration, I decided to switch from Windows to Linux. Now that I've installed Ubuntu successfully, I'm a bit lost on how to ensure my laptop is secure and how to fix these terminal issues. My BIOS settings are also confusing me, with secure boot statuses conflicting. I have several questions about both the terminal issue and what BIOS settings I should consider changing for better security. I'm eager to continue my journey in cybersecurity, including learning about ethical hacking, so any guidance would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
As for your BIOS settings, it's crucial to ensure that the Secure Boot option is indeed disabled if you're concerned about unauthorized access. The conflicting messages you're seeing might be a glitch, so double-check those settings. You might also want to disable 'PXE Boot to LAN' to prevent network booting, which could be a potential entry point for remote access. If you're still worried someone has access, consider doing a more thorough security check. A full disk encryption might help too.
I think it's very possible that the person who hacked you could still have backdoor access, especially if you haven't done a clean installation correctly. After wiping the NVMe, you should ensure you've completely reformatted the drive. For strengthening your system, start with regular updates, using a firewall, and considering some antivirus options for Linux. Always verify all software sources and try to stay away from third-party repositories unless you trust them completely.
It sounds like your terminal issue could be related to some startup applications running in the background. You can check your settings for anything that might be triggering a new terminal window. Open your settings and look for 'Startup Applications' to see if anything unusual is running. Additionally, consider checking your system logs for any errors that might give you more context.
I second that! Also, make sure you're not unknowingly pressing a shortcut that opens a terminal. Sometimes settings can get hijacked, especially if malware is involved.
Good call! It's also worth looking into whether your BIOS has a setting for 'Boot Mode'. Switching to 'UEFI' only might tighten security.