this post was submitted on 23 Dec 2025
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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So, I'm currently on Kubuntu and I'm not really a fan. I want to take the opportunity to switch to a better distro. Ideally I'd use secureblue but I'm hoping for advice on how practical it is as a daily driver from the people who've used it.

My priorities are:

  1. Using Linux.
  2. Using Firefox.
  3. Security, within reason.
  4. Using software which treats security with the importance it warrants (If desktop Linux should improve in one area in 2026, it's security).

My options are:

  1. Fedora Kinoite
  2. Fedora KDE with some hardening
  3. Secureblue

My needs are:

  • Browsers: Firefox, Mullvad Browser, a Blink-based browser (backup).
  • Extensions: Ublock Origin (Lite or otherwise), Noscript, Proton Pass
  • Apps: Freetube, Anki, Discord, Threema, Libreoffice, Mullvad VPN, Kwrite, Kolourpaint
  • Sound: Bluetooth headphones, Sound, Printing (Optional)

I've stopped using themes, partly because of the security issues and partly because I just don't really like them anymore. I've replaced them with the Plastic window decorations that come default on Kubuntu and a custom colour scheme.

On Firefox:

  • I need Firefox because it allows me to create duplicate bookmarks with ease. I manage a lot of things via bookmarks and sometimes they overlap.
  • Secureblue has been incompatible with Firefox in the past, but IIRC Firefox recently added support for hardened_malloc. I can't find where I read this though.
  • In terms of the security issues with Firefox, I've installed Noscript to prevent untrusted sites from running javascript (especially Wasm). I can swap to a blink-based browser where it requires trusting too many sites.
  • Proton Pass ... I don't log directly into it on my computer (only on GrapheneOS) and I don't have my 2FA keys stored on it. I need it for a Passkey because neither Linux nor GrapheneOS support them natively and my government services' 2FA codes requires it's own app which requires the Play Integrity API (bloody Australia). My government services are a very high value target (because Australia).
  • I wonder if I really need hardened_malloc in the first place, since with the state of Linux security I'm not sure there's a reason someone would use a memory vulnerability unless I'm being targeted personally (and nobody's gonna do that for me).

Security goals:

  1. I want to make sure the software I install don't have access to anything they don't need to.
  2. I want to make sure that any website I visit won't be able to access my file system.
  3. I want to make sure that my browser extensions won't be able to access my file system.
  4. I want to use a distro that's somewhat resilient against supply chain attacks.
  5. Proximity to upstream for timely security patches.
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[–] marcie@lemmy.ml 0 points 3 days ago

yeah i know all the semantics around this. it is nice though.