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Thread: New linux user help

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    New linux user help

    Hi all

    I've finally decided to install Linux (Xubuntu) on my laptop, alongside XP. I'm new to Linux and I could certainly use some help/tips. Is there anything I should know regarding security, antvirus, firewall, etc. I still have XP on the system, so should I install Clam AV or something mainly to protect Windows? Also, I have installed firestarter firewall but I have to manually launch it every time I boot - how do I get it to start automatically. I would also be very grateful of any other tips for a Linux newbie.
    Thanks in advance

    *This could be made a sticky for new Linux users to read.

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    Re: New linux user help

    Security: Never be root without good reason

    Antivirus: Don't bother, there's sod all by way of useful on-access scanning for zero threats anyway

    Firewall: You should have an init script, or the ability to create one - these are scripts that live in /etc/init.d/ and can be set to execute at a given time during the boot process. Or you can add GUI apps to your autostart list.

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    Re: New linux user help

    Firewalling linux desktops is largely redundant anyway. Because they don't run network services out of the box in the first place. You have to go out of your way to create possible attack vectors.
    Quote Originally Posted by Agent View Post
    ...every time Creative bring out a new card range their advertising makes it sound like they have discovered a way to insert a thousand Chuck Norris super dwarfs in your ears...

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    Re: New linux user help

    If you are behind a NAT router, and don't have any ports open for forwarding (ie, you aren't running any erver services) you will have the same level of protection as you would be giving a windows system - but do take the time to work out how to use any firewall built into the distro.

    F-Prot offer a free (to home user) Linux AV scanner - but as DirectHex says, the threat is very low.

    Get yourself a good book on your distro - Look at Amazon - O'Reilly do some excellent book - some specifically for Ubuntu, soe more general which you may want to get later if (when!) you decide that Liux is for you.
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    Re: New linux user help

    Thanks everyone. I think I will get a book. Would one about Ubuntu be OK, since it is similar to Xubuntu?

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    Re: New linux user help

    Quote Originally Posted by watercooled View Post
    Thanks everyone. I think I will get a book. Would one about Ubuntu be OK, since it is similar to Xubuntu?
    Yes, Xubuntu is just Ubuntu with different default software, Xfce instead of Gnome for e.g. But the core stuff is identical.
    Quote Originally Posted by Agent View Post
    ...every time Creative bring out a new card range their advertising makes it sound like they have discovered a way to insert a thousand Chuck Norris super dwarfs in your ears...

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    Re: New linux user help

    Quote Originally Posted by watercooled View Post
    Thanks everyone. I think I will get a book. Would one about Ubuntu be OK, since it is similar to Xubuntu?
    Yes. Under the hood it is all the same the only difference is what applications get installed by default and the desktop manager is.

    On the subject of AV tools, one thing you might consider if you are paranoid is rkhunter. (root kit hunter) It works by making and recording a checksum for all the executables on the system that might be modified by a rootkit or trojan, and then letting you know if they change. It also looks out for certain other attack vectors like signatures of some common rootkits.

    The downside is that it needs a bit of configuration, and every time you update your system it will emit a warning, so unless you are particularly paranoid it is probably not worth the effort.

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    Re: New linux user help

    Quote Originally Posted by watercooled View Post
    Hi all

    I've finally decided to install Linux (Xubuntu) on my laptop, alongside XP. I'm new to Linux and I could certainly use some help/tips. Is there anything I should know regarding security, antvirus, firewall, etc. I still have XP on the system, so should I install Clam AV or something mainly to protect Windows? Also, I have installed firestarter firewall but I have to manually launch it every time I boot - how do I get it to start automatically. I would also be very grateful of any other tips for a Linux newbie.
    Thanks in advance

    *This could be made a sticky for new Linux users to read.
    If your laptop has a bit of grunt get compiz on it and show off to your friends! I used to use it on my desktop at work!

    If you are serious about Linux and IT then try your best to use the command line as much as you can but If you don't work in or plan to work in IT then just use the GUI.

    Like the above said, try not to use root

    A/V is not really needed at all.

    Firestarter is not a firewall but more a GUI to setup the built in firewall. It shouldn't be run all the time as it runs as root. If you close firestarter your firewall will still be running.
    □ΞVΞ□

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    Re: New linux user help

    Quote Originally Posted by Jay View Post

    If you are serious about Linux and IT then try your best to use the command line as much as you can but If you don't work in or plan to work in IT then just use the GUI.
    Not sure I'd necessarily agree with that as a beginner. Certainly the command line is very powerful, and you can (generally) do more with the CLI. However the various Guis allow you do do a lot, and if you are using standard user applications, the Gui is probably better. Configuration files tend to be wtitten in plain english (no registry hives here!) and a Gui based editor is fine.

    Once you have got a bit of experience, start looking at the CLI - one of the (many) plus sides of the various Linux Guis is that it is eady to open a terminal window and access the CLI from that, either as a user or as root.


    Quote Originally Posted by Jay View Post
    Like the above said, try not to use root
    Absolutely! As a computer owner, you have two roles (and this is true of any OS) One is as the user - using the computer to do a job. The other is as an administrator - configuring and controlling the computer so it performs the role that you as user want. You should aim to do everyday tasks with minimum priviledges and only log on as root to do system administration. Again the Linux Gui's make that easy by letting you open a terminal window (or lots of them) and then log on through that as root. In that case you will probably find the CLI of most use, and mastering basic commands means you don't have to log off as user and re-log onto the GUI as root. But don't run before you can work - there is a reasonably steep learning curve, so take it easy and don't be put off by early snags. Get a book, and don't forget there is a lot of experience here on Hexus!
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    Re: New linux user help

    Thanks again for all the help. Are there any specific books you could recommend - I'm completely new to linux

    Another question - Was Xubuntu a wise choice for a Linux newbie? Is Ubuntu/Kubuntu easier to use/more user friendly? I haven't done much with Xubuntu so it wouldn't be a big deal swapping it with another version.
    Last edited by watercooled; 20-03-2009 at 01:43 AM.

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    Re: New linux user help

    It's a matter of personal preference. You can always install other desktop environments separately if you want to try them out. If you find Xubuntu easy enough to work with then it's as good as any.
    Quote Originally Posted by Agent View Post
    ...every time Creative bring out a new card range their advertising makes it sound like they have discovered a way to insert a thousand Chuck Norris super dwarfs in your ears...

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    Re: New linux user help

    Do a search (use Ubuntu as the search rem). I'd be looking at Either Ubuntu unleased or The Ubuntu Bible - and later I'd be getting Ubuntu Hacks. The first too are great for starting (I used one when I first started with Red Hat) - the second one gives specific solutions. Finally you can (if you wish) go to a generic Linux book - O'Relly's "Linux In a Nutshell" is an excellent book concentrating on Command Line command, Boot process and much more - but wait until you have got used to the system before you spalsh out on that. (There is a pocket version that is worth getting - its only about £6.00)

    There is also a lot of documentation with the distro. If you are in a terminal window and you want (for example) to know about the LS Command (list files) typing man LS brings up the manual, info ls brings up more info - however be warned that the qaulity of the information does vary from app to app - from the sparse (list of options) to the detailed which give examples and so on.
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    Re: New linux user help

    Thanks for all the help everyone.
    I decided to replace Xubuntu with Ubuntu as it feels more user-friendly.

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    Re: New linux user help

    Is there a shortcut for renaming files in Ubuntu like in Windows where you click the name twice slowly? Also, do file extensions matter in Linux or are files opened depending on contents?
    Thanks

    Edit: Also, I noticed 'BitTorrent' dotted around a bit. How do I completely block/remove BitTorrent from my system? I uninstalled the 'Transmission BitTorrent Client' via Apps - Add/Remove, is this enough?
    Thanks Again
    Last edited by watercooled; 20-03-2009 at 09:55 PM.

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    Re: New linux user help

    If you have an older laptop Puppy Linux would be a better distro as it requires less hardware resources than Ubuntu or even Xbuntu.

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    Re: New linux user help

    Ubuntu runs OK and I think it's easier to use than Puppy. I've disabled some startup programs such as the Bluetooth program and a few others. BTW does anyone know what the default Ubuntu wallpaper is? Can't figure out what it's supposed to be.

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