That doesnt mean your Linux distro is impenetrable, though, and certainly not out of the box.
Here are seven steps you’re free to take to make your Linux laptop more secure.
If youre still looking to make the jump, check out our selection of thebest Linux laptops.
We’ll walk you through everything you gotta know.
If your laptop gets stolen or lost, you wont have to worry about any data stored on it.
Its a very easy way to greatly reduce risk.
Note that on most distros, full-disk encryption is only possible during setup.
This is a good idea on any unit, as it prevents anybody from accessing your data.
Its particularly vital for any portable equipment as it can prevent unauthorized access should it get lost or stolen.
Youll be prompted to set a system password during setup, usually right after encrypting your hard drive.
ensure to create astrong, memorable passwordthats different from the hard disk password.
Using the same password twice makes life far too easy for would-be thieves.
Lucas Gouveia / Jason Montoya / How-To Geek
In a coworking space, somebody may make a run at gain access to confidential information.
Locking your screen prevents all these scenarios.
4Install a VPN
The first three tips will protect your laptop from anybody interfering with it physically.
Jerome Thomas / How-To Geek
However, a bigger issue may be hackers coming at you over a data pipe.
VPNs are great privacy tools, but they’re not perfect.
They can’t protect you from everything.
Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek
As an added bonus, thebest VPNsall offer anti-malware capabilities, too, cutting off that attack vector.
Firewalls are programs that can regulate the online grid traffic going in and out of your system.
6Disable Root Login Over SSH
The penultimate piece of advice is a little exotic, but useful.
As you probably know, root privileges let you do anything you want on a Linux machine.
Though the chances are slim, it doesnt hurt to be a little cautious.
7Keep Your System Updated
Finally, you should always keep your system updated.
Using these simple steps should prevent most common issues without you having to do much else.
