Linux security: where to start

Linux has a strong security reputation, and it's mostly deserved. But a lot of that protection depends on a few settings and habits, and they're easy to get right. You only need to set them once.

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CE: AllEasy

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Start with these five

If you do nothing else, do these. They close the most common gaps for an everyday Linux desktop or laptop.

Keep Linux up to date. Most attacks rely on out-of-date software. Turn on automatic updates and you shut that door without thinking about it.
Turn on the firewall. Most desktop Linux systems ship with a firewall that isn't switched on yet. Turning it on takes one command.
Work as a standard user. Do your day-to-day work in a normal account and use sudo only when a task genuinely needs it. That way a mistake or a bad download can't quietly change your whole system.
Use a strong login password and an automatic screen lock. A strong password is your first line of defence. A lock screen protects you the moment you step away.
Install software from trusted sources. Stick to your distribution's official repositories or its app store, or trusted formats like Flatpak. Avoid pasting install commands you found on a random website.

5 steps

Where these settings live

Most of these are in your system settings, under headings like Software & Updates, Privacy, or Users. The firewall and updates are quick to set from a terminal too, and each guide in this section shows you exactly what to type. Where a command is different on Fedora, we give you both.

Do them in order, at your own pace

You don't have to do all five today. Start at the top and work down. Each one you finish leaves you safer than before, and none of them will slow your machine down.

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