I'm planning to cancel my home internet but still want to use Linux. Would it be practical to run a Linux computer completely offline for everyday tasks? I mainly need an offline music player, a word processor and spreadsheet application, and possibly a digital audio workstation. I could occasionally take the computer somewhere with Wi-Fi to download software or updates if absolutely necessary, but I'd like to understand how important updates and package downloads would be in this situation, especially since the machine would rarely or never be online at home.
2 Answers
Updates still matter, even on an offline machine, particularly for the operating system and any files or programs you bring in from elsewhere. Being offline greatly reduces exposure to remote attacks, but it doesn’t eliminate every risk—malware can still arrive through USB drives or downloaded files. Set up the system while you have access to the internet, keep installation media and package files backed up, and update it periodically when practical.
Yes, Linux can work perfectly well offline once you’ve installed the programs you need. You’ll just need internet access occasionally to download applications, updates, firmware, or dependencies. Debian-based systems are often a convenient choice because you can download packages in advance or use another computer to transfer them. LibreOffice can cover documents and spreadsheets, while VLC, Rhythmbox, Ardour, or LMMS are worth considering for music and audio work.
That makes sense. If the computer is almost never connected, how important are regular updates? I could take it to a place with free Wi-Fi when I really need to, though I realize using public networks has its own risks.
I’m specifically planning to cancel wired home service, not avoid internet access forever. I can use mobile data or occasional public Wi-Fi if I need to maintain the system.