Linux how to: Linux for everyday use

Lately, most Internet borne viruses had been very creative. One time, I was trying to copy a file from my flash drive to the office laptop when I saw a folder named "myKenneth." I thought, wow, somebody calls me hers (or his--shiver) and at the same time open the folder. It is empty.

Little did I know that it was a virus and the laptop was doomed for reformatting.

In my Linux powered PC, I can see this file but it does not seem to have any effect on the OS. So, is Linux viable for daily use? Here is my analysis.

I do not have any experience with other Linux OS (Ubuntu, Debian, or Red Hat) but I am having a good time with my Debian-based Bayanihan Linux 4 developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) of the Republic of the Philippines. And I can say, this OS is viable for daily use.

Security wise, this OS only allows GUI access to users. Administrators can also use it but only through another user's account only. This means no one can install anything unusual since they do not have any installation privileges. This means a rogue virus trying to install itself on the Linux powered PC cannot install itself. :)

For daily surfing, document writing, spreadsheet preparations, and presentation designing, Bayanihan Linux 4 is viable.

It features office applications like Writer, Calc, and Impress. Their Windows counterparts are Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, in this order. Other office applications are: KAddressBook (for addresses), Base (similar to MS Access), Scribus for desktop publishing, Draw for drawings, Math for mathematical needs, KMyMoney financial accounting software, and KOrganizer similar to MS Outlook.

The OS also has a multimedia player that can play basically anything from MP3s to AVIs to VCD movies. It, however, cannot play codecs for DVD players. Waaaaaahhh... :'(

This OS also has 14 graphics related applications, 8 multimedia applications (including the player mentioned above), games, educational applications, and more! It uses FireFox for internet access. FireFox support tabbing and allows users to open several sites in one window.

So, for all "simple" users, Linux is the best, free option you can get if you only need office, multimedia, and internet applications in your daily lives. It has a GUI for easy use. Most secure from alterations and, possibly, corruption of restricted files. And Vista looks almost like it.

And it works faster even with LimeWire in the background (my processor is AMD Athlon 1800+ that translates to Intel's Pentium 4 1.5 GHz)

Internet security tips

Here are a few tips I picked up here and there on Internet security.

1. Always make sure that the "padlock" icon is visible on your browser. This padlock can be usually seen at the bottom-right portion of the browser window. This icon can also be found near the address box. The address box is where you usually type-in the name of the website or what is called the URL.

2. Before logging in to your account, always look for a link that says "using public computer" or something similar. Some websites provide this option to provide additional security for the user.

3. For Yahoo! users, the log-in interface allows the user to choose a picture from the user's files. The chosen picture will show on the log-in box signifying that the site is authentic and that it is secure.

4. Do not -- DO NOT -- always click "OK" whenever a window pops-up. Read the message first. If your action results to that pop-up, still take some time to read it thoroughly. Some browsers inquire if you trust the security certificate of the site you are opening especially if that site's security certificate has lapsed.

5. If you do not trust the site, try to see where the link will take you before clicking it. Place your mouse on the link until the arrow turns to a finger pointing at that link. At the bottom left portion of the browser window, you will find there the address where you will be taken.

6. Keep out of porn sites. Specially the unpopular ones. You can install a virus or trojan on your computer by just clicking the link.

7. When opening your email, be careful when opening attachments. I usually shy away from attachments with file extensions other than .jpg, .gif, .tff, 3gpp, other office files (.doc, .xls). Even if the email sender is your close friend, read their message first. If the message contains something that your friend does not usually send, avoid opening the attachments. Always try to avoid the .gfx, .vbs., and .exe files.