I'm planning to cancel my home internet but still want to use Linux. Is it practical to set up a computer that stays offline permanently, aside from occasionally downloading or installing software elsewhere? I'd need an offline music player, a word processor and spreadsheet application, and a digital audio workstation. How important would regular updates and package downloads be in this situation? If necessary, I could take the computer to a location with free Wi-Fi, though I realize that carries some security risks.
2 Answers
Being offline removes many common network-security risks, but it doesn’t make updates completely irrelevant. Software can still have bugs, and files brought over on USB drives can contain malware. If you update periodically, download packages from trusted sources, and scan or carefully check anything transferred to the computer, an offline setup should work well.
Yes, it’s practical. Install the applications and any packages you need while you have access to the internet, then use the system offline. You’ll still need occasional online access for operating-system updates, bug fixes, and new software. A stable distribution with slower release cycles, such as Debian, may be less demanding than Fedora or an Arch-based system. For music production, Ardour is one option worth investigating.
That makes sense. Since the machine won’t be exposed to the internet regularly, are updates mainly a convenience in this case, or are they still important? I could bring the computer to a place with Wi-Fi when necessary.
I’m specifically getting rid of home internet, not all internet access, so occasional updates over public Wi-Fi could be an option. I’ll be careful about what I transfer by USB.