Administering Networking OS — Using Linux #3

College Online Material

CompanionLink

Working With The Linux Environment

Graphical vs. Non-Graphical

• Graphical mode runs an X-server, has windows, and menus
• Non-graph mode is text only, focuses on a shell access
• You can run multiple shell in graphical mode, each within their own window

Getting to a Terminal

• Look for X-term or terminal (on utility or system)
• You can have multiple terminal windows open
• Cut and paste between different app
• Same shells as a non-graphical mode

Working with Linux

Lots of software available to get office work done with Linux. LibreOffice provides a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation package that is compatible with the Microsoft app.

Firefox or chromium for web browsing. Distribution or desktop environment will provide email tools and other apps like a calculator and notepad.

Linux Security Basics

Keeping Safe

Cookies are a small token that your browser sends back to the originating site on each request. Cookies are the biggest violators of privacy

• You can disable cookies entirely
• Or just wipe them at the end of the session
• Also able to disable 3rd party cookies

Password

• Use strong and unique password everywhere
• Software like KeepassXC to save your password so you don’t need to remember as many
• A strong password is random (10 or more char, a mix of uppercase and lowercase, add symbols, etc.)

Firewall

Use firewall

• A default “deny incoming: allow outgoing” policy is very effective
• IP Tables is the build Linux firewall system

Keep up to date

• Your dist. should make it easy to check for, and install upgrades
• Update has fixed for security problems
• Check often, or have your computer do it for you