Tips on moving to Linux?

[cgutjahr]

Not sure if I should install AVAST for Linux, AVG for Linux or COMODO for Linux.

You don't need to install any of them. They all just scan for Windows malware, they're intended for people running stuff like mail servers.

Just install all available software updates as soon as they're available (it's automated, anyway), and stick with the official software repositories - or at least be very careful what other repositories you add. You won't encounter any malware issues that way.

[desiv]

You don't need to install any of them. They all just scan for Windows malware, they're intended for people running stuff like mail servers..

Although, if he's dual booting, he could mount his Windows partition and scan it using those tools, for a decent offline scan of that OS..
Not sure I'd go to the trouble, but it's probably a bit easier than a boot CD/thumb drive to scan his Windows OS offline.

desiv

[ElPolloDiabl]

I found this:

8 deadly commands you should never run on Linux
Link:
http://www.howtogeek.com/125157/8-deadly-commands-you-should-never-run-on-linux/

So someone could give you a command that erases your entire drive?

[desiv]

So someone could give you a command that erases your entire drive?

Yep,
pretty standard for any OS really.
That's why separation between your user and you your admin level rights on the box is so important.

That RM command would still be painful, but not nearly as painful if you aren't root. (or run it with sudo, which generally asks for a password)

desiv
Admin:  Make me a sandwich.
User:  No, make it yourself.
Admin: sudo Make me a sandwich.
User:  OK.

[CritAnime]

Yep,
pretty standard for any OS really.
That's why separation between your user and you your admin level rights on the box is so important.

That RM command would still be painful, but not nearly as painful if you aren't root. (or run it with sudo, which generally asks for a password)

desiv
Admin:  Make me a sandwich.
User:  No, make it yourself.
Admin: sudo Make me a sandwich.
User:  OK.

:roflmao:

To be fair most of the nasty commands now need sudo to run. Or at the very least some sort of enhanced privliges. I have noticed very few modern Linux distributions allowing you to set a root password beyond the sort of heavy duty distributions such as Red Hat.

But it is always wise to check what a command does if you get it off some random thread.

[Fats]

You don't need to install any of them. They all just scan for Windows malware, they're intended for people running stuff like mail servers.

One thing that could be done is install so called rootkit detection software e.g. software that tries to detect for the unlikely event a script kiddie could penetrate your computer. This is software like rkhunter and chkrootkit. These tools don't run in background though and have to be started manually or scheduled on a regular time.

[AmigaPixel]

Does linux Ubuntu have the eqivalent to Task manger? Applcations mainly Firefox freeze up and I have no way to end the programs. Ubuntu even with the updates seems a little buggy rigth now, I am using version 12.04 for now.

[AmigaPixel]

Well doing a quick search I found this article which helps explain the Ubuntu system monitor, but it does not tell of any keyboard shortcuts in case the mouse is frozen. It  does'nt it mention if you can end specific programs.

[CritAnime]

Well doing a quick search I found this article which helps explain the Ubuntu system monitor, but it does not tell of any keyboard shortcuts in case the mouse is frozen. It does'nt it mention if you can end specific programs.

open a terminal window (ctrl+alt+t) then do killall firefox in the cli. If it complains the stick sudo infront of it. So long as you know the terminal command to run a program you can kill it the by apending killall infront of it. If not you can do a check using top or ps.
 
I reall like htop, which is a enhanced veriosn of top, for doing process management in terminal. It gives clear info on what state the system is in and gives a breakdown of running processes on both user and root. If you are on a debian/ubuntu system simply do sudo apt-get install htop and bingo bango it is done. To run type htop in a terminal and off it goes. If you need enhanced privlidges for something stick sudo infront of it.
 

[Iggy]

And with that, we get a quick lesson as to why so many people are sticking with Windows.
For God's sake, why isn't there an app for this that doesn't require the use of a terminal?
I feel like I'm back in the '80s with crap like this.

[desiv]

For God's sake, why isn't there an app for this that doesn't require the use of a terminal?

Assumptions much?
Who said there isn't an app for this that doesn't require the use of a terminal?

Of course there is, or are..
There are lots..
Ubuntu and Mint (and other variants) almost always come with System Monitor, ether enabled or easy to enable (left click on the taskbar and add the applet).

Select the "Processes" tab.  Select the process and end it.

Although there are lots of fun command line options also.
One of my favorites was always xkill.
Type that into a terminal (or you could put an icon on your desktop for it if you want, but it's not needed very often, so I don't bother).
Then your cursor becomes and X and you can kill any process (window) by clicking on it..  Great fun!!  :-)

desiv

[stefcep2]

Does linux Ubuntu have the eqivalent to Task manger? Applcations mainly Firefox freeze up and I have no way to end the programs. Ubuntu even with the updates seems a little buggy rigth now, I am using version 12.04 for now.

And in time you'll be saying that about 12.10, 13.04, 13.10, 14.04 or whatever version.  This idea that a new version is put out every 6 months is madness, although better than the distro's who are on a rolling update.  THATs like playing Russian roulette, with every update you get everyday.

All distro's are on this hamster wheel to up the version number that stability is secondary to having the latest.  And YOU get to be the guinea pig for every new version.

[cgutjahr]

For God's sake, why isn't there an app for this that doesn't require the use of a terminal?

There is, of course. It's just a lot easier to tell him "open terminal and type 'foo'" than writing half a novel explaining where to click, what it's called and how it will react.

I feel like I'm back in the '80s with crap like this.

Then use Synaptic and the Gnome System Monitor (or whatever equivalent Lubuntu is using) to do the tasks described above.

The rest of us will enjoy the beauty that is the Unix terminal in the meantime.

[cgutjahr]

All distro's are on this hamster wheel to up the version number that stability is secondary to having the latest.

And on top of that, Linux is making our children gay! I saw it with my own eyes!

[CritAnime]

And with that, we get a quick lesson as to why so many people are sticking with Windows.
For God's sake, why isn't there an app for this that doesn't require the use of a terminal?
I feel like I'm back in the '80s with crap like this.

There are numerous tools available, just like there is in Windows. Showing someone the Teminal way of doing things is not heresy towards a gui way. But if something does go wrong with the gui then terminal will be the way to go.
 

And in time you'll be saying that about 12.10, 13.04, 13.10, 14.04 or whatever version. This idea that a new version is put out every 6 months is madness, although better than the distro's who are on a rolling update. THATs like playing Russian roulette, with every update you get everyday.
 
All distro's are on this hamster wheel to up the version number that stability is secondary to having the latest. And YOU get to be the guinea pig for every new version.

Someone needs to take some chillout time. You do know the difference between Ubuntu release models don't you? Such as LTS and standard releases?
 
They make it pretty clear what the difference is between releases.

[stefcep2]

There is, of course. It's just a lot easier to tell him "open terminal and type 'foo'" than writing half a novel explaining where to click, what it's called and how it will react.

NO!No!No!

I've heard this bull%&$#?@!%&$#?@!%&$#?@!%&$#?@! excuse for Linux lack of intuitive interface a lot.

All the user is doing is cut and pasting archaic, cryptic commands that :
1.  He has no idea what they do and why.
2.  He will not remember any of it.

Y'know people sometime in the 1970's realised this and thought...there has to be a better way..and lo and behold, there was.

They called it a Graphical User Interface.

Then use Synaptic and the Gnome System Monitor (or whatever equivalent Lubuntu is using) to do the tasks described above.

So why did he have to come here and ask and couldn't see this for himself?

The rest of us will enjoy the beauty that is the Unix terminal in the meantime.

I think I just threw up a little.