Linux Mint is best specially for someone moving from windows. You don’t have to go crazy on “hardening” linux and using immutable ones. Its more important to keep the new user feel home when using linux or chances they would get exhausted of hardening and switch back to windows. I have seen many people do this.
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Yes, please. I’m not touching these rolling release distros with a 30-foot pole. No thank you.
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Can someone explain to me like I’m 5 what this means practically?
I used Mint back in 2016 (my only real Linux use) and loved it and want to go back to it now that I’m about to switch to Linux fully. I just want it for general use, what is the security/privacy concern?
For the average threat model for your everyday computing needs, as long as you follow good OPSEC as much as you can, you should be totally fine using Mint. Nothing wrong with it in this case.
So go for it.
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Linux Mint uses the outdated X11 display server which has some security vulnerabilities, especially the fact that it allows any application to capture your screen and key inputs all the time (even when in other application).
Fedora is not harder to use in any way then Linux Mint put ships with up to date software.
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Its not like the only options are Mint or SecureBlue.
Using Wayland is such a basic form of hardening that everyone should do it.
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Mint is an attractive option for those transitioning from Windows and wanting to keep a Windows-like look and feel, but it’s just one of many nice options (at least a dozen) for this purpose. And some of them do not share Mint’s lack of attention to security.
Basically any popular distro with KDE Plasma or Cinnamon will have a look and feel that is roughly similar to Windows. Some that come to mind are (roughly ordered from most to least similar to Mint Cinnamon):
- Ubuntu Cinnamon
- Kubuntu
- Debian + KDE Plasma or Cinnamon
- Fedora + KDE Plasma or Cinnamon
- OpenSUSE + KDE Plasma or Cinnamon
*Bold = recommended by Privacy Guides & better than average baseline security.
With that said, I’d agree with your broader point that for most people, not getting overly hung up on distro choice or ‘hardening’ is a good point. Maximizing security is always better in the abstract, but most of us have other priorities in addition to our interest in good privacy and security, and the right choice will often be an option that balances between various different competing priorities. It’s valid to choose a distro that is a better fit for you overall, even if it isn’t excellent in all regards.
I oppose recommending Mint, but I don’t oppose people choosing to use it. It’s a nice distro in many ways, it just won’t be at the top of any list wrt security.
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I heard ZorinOS is getting a lot of traction recently. I wonder how it compares to Mint. (maybe I should open a new question)
Its similar to Mint in many ways. Just looks different and feels more “modern”. But it doesn’t have any better security than Mint. They’re equal in my opinion. I prefer Mint but if you like the slick look and feel of Zorin, that’s fine too.
But I personally use GNOME Fedora and Silverblue. Though I am going to finally start testing PopOS with COSMIC DE that’s coming out of beta before the year ends so that would be something new to try.
If I had to describe ZorinOS, think of Mint’s goal of new user friendliness and increase the knob to 100
One of the standouts I can think of is 2 folds or more:
- Included Brave Browser (honestly the only distro to do that)
- Windows App Support, Yes you can do it on mint too, install wine and bottle, done, but I would bet if you want less technical support from family and friends when it comes to it, this is it
- Zorin Can actually detect exes and tell the user the alternatives or to use the web app if available or if the insist they can use the windows app support to run it
- Familiarity: Zorin actually makes UIs familiar to Old Windows and MacOS (and Gnome) Meaning UI and UX should be familiar to those used on windows or Mac
- Both of them don’t require the terminal to use their OSes, especially Zorin which is a huge plus
Zorin pro is pretty debatable honestly, like very debatable, because a lot of the apps included are free and most don’t need all of them preinstalled
I haven’t tried Zorin in a long time having learned how to use desktop Linux on it. Perhaps I should try it again. But now it feels too simple for me to use since I’m used to Workstation and Silverblue now.
I really consider this as a means to support the distro and not just buying for the apps you can install for free yourself anyway.
For supporting the distro that’s fine but honestly you have to ask if you’re gonna use even most of them.
Even the windows 11 and more themes aside which I Wouldn’t pay 70 bucks for those
I just donated €5 to KDE recently as they decided to ask nicely, and that’s the reason with a reasonable amount (last They asked before this I was able to give 10)
Yeah, I didn’t. But I was okay with it as I considered it a support than anything. I want as few apps on my fresh install as much as possible. This was years ago.
Interesting. Good to know cause I’m constantly convincing people to switch from windows and having something VERY userfriendly (even more than mint) is always a plus 
Might try it out and start recommending it too.
Btw, it wasn’t mentioned here but the support community of Mint is really awesome and worth a shout out.
This is how noob I am, I’m realising what I liked about Mint, was pretty much the way it looks, so Cinnamon. I also later toyed with Majaro, I loved the look customisation etc. so what I actually liked is KDE Plasma.
If Fedora is the recommended distro here then that’s what I’ll go with.
I see there’s a bunch of atomic desktops and spins (which I don’t really understand) but can I try some out? do ones like Cinnamon not run Wayland?
I just discovered Cosmic which looks really cool, any reason not to use it with Fedora?
I recommend not overwhelming yourself with Linux flavors.
For now, I’d recommend you try and learn to use desktop Linux on Fedora KDE if that’s what you like. Once you’re more comfortable, you can try Cinnamon, COSMIC, and others.
COSMIC is still in beta but coming out of it very soon via PopOS. So in a few months, Fedora should update and you can use COSMIC with Fedora too.
As for Atomic distros, they are more “rock solid” but don’t worry about it now. It’s very easy and similar to use once you get used to using Fedora Workstation or KDE. Kinoite is the Atomic Fedora with KDE so try that once you’re ready.
That’s my two cents on this. But you can jump right in and learn the hard way which is also fun but also a little frustrating to figure out things on your own reading help pages and watching videos.
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Avoid Atomic Distros to use. Its annoying to use as it requires to reboot each system update. If you did the recommendation to also use LUKS with a passphrase… its going to be a very rough experience. Stay away from atomic distro until the apps you use have an official flatpak.
That is literally the feature for why one chooses to use Atomic. Don’t think you get why people use Atomic then.
Simply recommending to avoid is a bad way to explain your “rationale”.
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Atomic distros still have some quirks that haven’t been ironed out yet. If you feel like experimenting you’re free to try anything but if you just want something that is most likely to work with the fewest issues, I’d stick with Privacy Guides’ main recommendation to new users: Fedora Workstation or Fedora KDE.
Correct, many desktop environments (Cinnamon, MATE, Xfce, etc) do not support Wayland yet and that applies to any distro which uses them. GNOME and KDE use Wayland by default and are usually what people recommend. LXQt should support Wayland in the latest version but I’m not sure if it’s enabled by default.
It’s still experimental right now. It’ll be a while longer before it is stable and ready for use. I’d stick to the tried and true GNOME or KDE for now.
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They are aiming for a stable release on December 11th so not too long.
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