To make it quick and easy to secure your computer from online risks, we created a list of the top Linux distributions for privacy and security.
Linux distributions still require frequent security upgrades to remain secure, despite the fact that Linux is typically thought of as being fairly safe and presenting less of a security risk than Windows systems. Furthermore, a number of highly-publicized hacking attacks in which user data was stolen and misused, as well as greater government monitoring and corporate data collecting, have made internet users more concerned about privacy and security.
Although there are safeguards in place for Windows and macOS devices, as well as extra choices like using a top VPN or the Tor browser, there are now several Linux distributions that prioritize security and privacy.
For some of these Linux distributions, privacy protection is built in by default utilizing a number of different technologies. For some, it’s about making security software a standard requirement for penetration tests.
Depending on the demands and interests of the user, each of these distributions places a distinct emphasis on security and/or privacy. We evaluated them based on a number of criteria, including the encryption technologies they include, how they maintain their connections while protecting privacy, the documentation, the learning curve, and whether or not there is a vibrant online community or discussion forum.
All of the distributions in this tutorial have been designed with the express purpose of giving you the tools you need to protect your privacy and make sure you’re safe when using the internet.
The top Linux distributions for security and privacy, in our opinion, are listed below.
The complete list of 2024’s top Linux distributions for security and privacy:
1. Kodachi is the best Linux distribution in terms of security and privacy.
Motives for purchasing
+Connections are routed via Tor and VPN
+A wide range of tools
+Suitable for daily use as a driver
Reasons to stay away from Being outside the box is not an easy
Experience.
Using a customized Xfce desktop, Kodachi seeks to provide users with an extensive range of privacy and security capabilities while maintaining user-friendliness. There are countless apps on the distribution that serve a wide range of user types. Every application you would find on a standard desktop distribution is included in Kodachi, plus a few more.
Kodachi cleverly redirects all of your Internet connections via a VPN before sending them to the Tor network in order to protect your anonymity. More experienced users can connect using a VPN of their own.
Kodachi additionally improves security in a number of ways. AppArmor is used by the distribution to isolate applications. VeraCrypt, ZuluCrypt, KeePassXC, Metadata Anonymisation Toolkit (MAT) for zapping metadata information from files, and other privacy-protecting utilities are all included.
Additionally, the distribution includes a set of tools for quickly changing identifying information, like the Tor exit country. The distribution also encrypts the DNS resolver connection and incorporates popular cryptographic and privacy tools to protect offline files, emails, and instant chats.
Among the privacy features available in the Panic Room entry are a RAM wipe tool and a password creation option that, when input, will safely delete everything from your encrypted Kodachi installation.
2. For the greatest level of safety, Qubes OS is the best Linux distribution.
Motives for purchasing
+Isolation for security
+Very different yet still functional
+Extensive documentation
Reasons to stay away from -Is incompatible with certain hardware
Perhaps the most well-known security-focused distribution is Qubes. It uses virtualization wisely and operates on the Security by Isolation principle to prevent unwanted software from infecting other areas of the installation.
Qubes separates a number of crucial operating system components in a unique way within distinct virtual machines, or qubes. An application’s unique instance is limited to its own qube. This setup allows you to view unreliable websites using Firefox in one qube and conduct online transactions using a separate instance of the browser in another qube. The banking session won’t be impacted by a malicious website in the untrusted domain.
There is a learning curve with Qubes because of its drastically different approach. It isn’t so sudden, though, that it stops you from utilizing the distribution like you would with a typical Linux installation. Qubes uses the Xfce desktop environment and is based on Fedora. Its application menu, however, offers a number of categories—such as work, personal, and untrusted—instead of a list of programs, each of which rolls the individual apps inside of it.
3. Tails: The Best Linux distribution for novices in terms of security and privacy
Motives for purchasing
+Uses Tor to anonymize connections
+Usable from a USB that is encrypted
+Firefox has privacy plugins installed.
Reasons to stay away from -By default, documents written during the sessions are not encrypted.
“The Amnesiac Incognito Live System,” or Tails, is probably the most well-known privacy-focused distribution. It can be launched from a DVD in Live mode, which completely loads into the RAM of your computer and leaves no evidence of its operation. Additionally, the OS can be used in “persistent” mode, which allows you to store your preferences on a USB stick that is protected.
The anonymity network Tor is used to route all connections, hiding your location. The apps in Tails have also been carefully chosen to improve your privacy. For instance, KeePassX, a command-line program for exporting OpenPGP secret keys to print on paper, is decent, but it’s not the finest password manager. A few productivity tools are also available, like the robust LibreOffice suite and Mozilla Thunderbird.
Several desktop programs, including LibreOffice, GIMP, Pidgin, Inkscape, Audacity, and Thunderbird, are included with the distribution. You may also add more features to the Gnome-powered distribution by using the Synaptic Package Manager. Unless you set up persistent storage, any packages you decide to install are not accessible on later reboots.
4. Whonix, the best virtualization-based Linux distribution for security and privacy
Motives for purchasing
+Connections made using the Tor network, which is anonymous
+ Numerous privacy-focused apps come pre installed.
Reasons to stay away from -VMs don’t perform as quickly as local installations.
Installing an operating system on a hard drive carries a risk of compromise, and booting a live operating system is a pain because you have to restart your computer. Because Whonix is made to function as a virtual computer within the free application Virtualbox, it provides a sophisticated compromise.
There are two sections to Whonix. For the second “Workstation” component, the first “Gateway” directs all connections to the Tor network. This significantly lowers the possibility of DNS leaks, which may be used to track the websites you visit.
There are several privacy-conscious features in the OS. These consist of pre-installed applications like Tox instant messaging and the Tor browser.
Whonix works with any operating system that can run Virtualbox because it operates in a virtual machine. Because virtual machines can only utilize a subset of the capabilities of your physical system, Whonix may not operate as quickly as an operating system that has been installed locally on a hard drive.
5. Septor: An excellent Linux distribution with privacy tools
Motives for purchasing
+All traffic is routed via Tor.
+ A number of privacy-related tools
Reasons to stay away from -Relatively recent support systems
The Serbian Linux project creates Septor in addition to a general-purpose Linux distribution for speakers of the Serbian language. Septor, one of the newest distributions in this guide with only a few releases, is based on Debian’s Testing branch and utilizes the KDE desktop environment.
The distribution directs all traffic going to the Internet via the Tor anonymous network in order to obtain its privacy credentials. The distribution now bundles the most recent Tor release by default, instead of using a launcher script to download it from the Internet.
The distribution comes with a few tools that are intended to be used over the Tor network in addition to the Tor browser. The Ricochet instant messaging client and the anonymous file-sharing application OnionShare are two examples.
In addition to the Tor tools, the distribution includes a few more apps that improve security and privacy, like the Metadata Anonymisation Toolkit (MAT), VeraCrypt encryption software, and the Sweeper tool for clearing temporary files and the cache.
