Ubuntu

[bacteria]

Thinking about changing one of my computers from XP to Ubuntu

My understanding is that that OS isn't prone to viruses - is that the case?

What about protection against spyware, keyloggers, malware, trojans, etc? Digging your head in the sand isn't an option these days with internet protection - comments, and recommendations please?

[Krooner]

There's comprehensive virus software available and it's free, Linux isn't prone to virus's primarily because no one is attacking it. It's a great OS you won't regret jumping, I've never looked back. I use Mint which is a modified version of ubuntu. You may get display issues if you're installing on a laptop.

[Ziggy]

Ubuntu is pretty cool. Consider a dual boot, unless your hard drive is too small. the Ubuntu setup process makes it very easy to partition your hard drive for a dual boot.

[bacteria]

Mint?

What's the best anti virus software, anti trojan and malware for Ubuntu?

best forum/freeware site for Ubuntu?

All I want it for is the main computer - for Opera, Firefox, Thunderbird (these cover my browsers and email), Movie Maker replacement, software to edit movie files (I use Avidemux, free), graphic editing.

I understand that Wine can allow you to run Windows programs - apps - is it good, and what's the best version etc? Looking for Paint Shop Pro, and Photofiltre on XP to run ideally.

[RBT]

I have been running Ubuntu for the past year, I have been very impressed with it so far.

[Hatta]

What he said. Linux, like OS X, could in theory get viruses, trojans, etc, etc. But the market share is smaller so it's not as attractive a target. Users are also less likely to randomly run executables they find on the internet because we get nice pre-packaged software from our distributions. And a Linux distro by default tends to have fewer open ports than Windows. But the major factor protecting Linux is simply incompatibility with Windows. In any case, an operating system is only as secure as the person operating it. If you allow root logins via SSH and have a dictionary password, you *will* get rooted.

My recommendation is to look at Linux as an adventure in computing, and prepare for some culture shock. There is a way to do just about everything you might want to do under Linux. It might not be the way you're used to, but figuring that out is part of the fun. There are definitely problems with Linux, but once you're acclimated to it those issues are a lot more tolerable than the constant annoyances of Windows.

And remember, the command line is your friend. It's there to help you. Get familiar with it.

One thing you might do to get some hands on experience is to install it on an old PC for use as a router. Don't even put X on it. Maybe run an FTP server, set up Samba, Squid, or some other server software. Once you feel handy administering a server you'll be a lot better prepared to deal with the little issues that pop up when using it as a desktop.

Edit: There is no anti-virus software for Linux. Only run software from trusted sources and you're fine.

There is also no "freeware site" for Linux. Each linux distro maintains their own repository, you can think of it as an app store. You run an application on your desktop that manages this repository.

Wine is great when it supports what you want to run. Compatibility is hit & miss, but it's come a LONG way in recent years. Check for compatible apps at appdb.winehq.org. But look for a Linux native app first.

[lisalover1]

Yeah, Linux is one of the safest operating systems available, and Ubuntu is the most popular variant of Linux, with arguably the most support. In the 2 or so years that I have used Ubuntu, I haven't had a single problem with viruses, malware, spyware, or anything else of that nature. It's a great OS, and I really recommend it. If you're still unsure, you can dual-boot [have 2 different OSs installed, choosing which one to use on startup], using the program Wubi: http://wubi-installer.org/

My recommendation is to look at Linux as an adventure in computing, and prepare for some culture shock. There is a way to do just about everything you might want to do under Linux. It might not be the way you're used to, but figuring that out is part of the fun. There are definitely problems with Linux, but once you're acclimated to it those issues are a lot more tolerable than the constant annoyances of Windows.

This. When I first tried Linux, it was an adventure into the unknown, and every day I used the system brought forth new and interesting discoveries, and the whole thing was a fun experience.

[fastbilly1]

I too suggest trying Mint first. You can install it inside of xp (very vmware of them), and use it like an application. If you like it, it is an easy switch over.

[RokstaEnSweden]

I made the switch from Windows to Ubuntu last year and never looked back. The nail in the coffin was my new computer which came preloaded with Vista, which was a horrible experience. I'd recommend going with Ubuntu over Mint, simply because there is a much bigger community of people sharing their problems and solutions on the Ubuntu forums, and that information helped me out A LOT when I first started working with Linux.

I think what really won me over in the long run was the ability to actually FIX problems using Linux. When something errors in Windows, you'd better cross your fingers and hope the issue is addressed in the next service pack or patch or whatever. But if something messes up on your Linux machine you can hop on some forums, get it figured out, and implement a solution all on your own.

[noiseredux]

didn't I hear that linux has a lot of problems with wifi? Or is that a thing of the past?