I just set up Ubuntu 24.04 and I'm new to the Linux world, having switched from Windows 11. I'm looking for advice on how to enhance my security and online anonymity. So far, I've installed NordVPN and started using Brave as my web browser. What should my next steps be? Is there a need for a firewall since I heard Ubuntu has one that's off by default? Also, do I need antivirus software? How do I approach that? Please be gentle with me; I'm still learning!
6 Answers
A good practice is to periodically check for rootkits to ensure nothing sketchy is running on your system.
You might not need an antivirus for Ubuntu, it’s pretty secure on its own. You can set up "ufw" which is a simple firewall command-line tool. It's worth reading up on to make sure it's configured properly. Overall, I think you're off to a good start!
What’s a rootkit? I’m just trying to grasp all this stuff!
Honestly, if you’re not engaging in activities that would attract serious hacking attempts, you're likely fine. Unlike Windows, Linux doesn’t automatically expose ports to the internet. Just using Linux generally gives you better security than Windows. You’re on the right track with using a VPN and private browsing.
You actually don’t need to sweat antivirus in the same way you would on Windows; as long as you have ufw enabled, you're mostly protected. Switching to the KDE desktop could also improve your experience if you don’t like the default GNOME. Just enable ufw, that's usually enough!
So enabling ufw is all I need to do? I’d like to know if it acts like the macOS firewall that prompts you for app connections.
Haha, I hear you! I’m intrigued by both KDE and GNOME too—definitely worth looking into!
If you really want to be anonymous, consider removing yourself from social media and using more private OS options like Whonix. If you care about privacy, switching up your communication methods also helps.
Thanks! I’ll make sure to check that out.