Why I use Linux

My post content

Ever since I first started playing around with computers at the age of 5, I have used Windows. So, when I switched to Linux after 22 years of using Windows , it was a significant and somewhat daunting change.

The first challenge I had to overcome in my shift to Linux was using the terminal. What is sudo, and what's the difference with su? However, after some learning and a lot of time on Linux forums, I gradually became comfortable with the terminal. Now, I even prefer it; in many ways, the terminal is quicker and easier to use. Becoming comfortable with the terminal definitely made me a better coder, allowing me to have deeper interactions with the system and its architecture, which gave me a better understanding of my computer and how everything functioned.

So, why did I switch?

Let me be clear, I haven't completely left Windows in the past. I love to play games, and Linux is known for not having a wide variety of games. So, my current setup is a dual boot, of Windows and Pop. I chose Pop!_OS. I chose Pop!_OS as it is recommended for beginners and has some optimisations for gaming should I choose to venture into the world of Linux gaming. I usually code and work on my Linux system and game on my Windows system.

The reason I switched was mainly due to the poor decisions Microsoft has made with Windows recently. There was the whole situation with the Windows 11 recall feature, which, as an aspiring ethical hacker, I saw the many red flags there were with that whole concept. While I don't have anything to hide, the thought that my system would be recording my every move in the background made me uneasy.

Another issue I have is that I am being forced to switch over to Windows 11. I keep getting asked if I'd like to upgrade to Windows 11, and frankly, no, I do not want to make the change. I don't like what they have done with Windows 11. It's still new and has quite a few issues, to say the least. Additionally, when I initially switched over to Windows 11 on my laptop (when I was still a Windows fan), my laptop ended up blue-screening on many occasions, so I decided to switch back to Windows 10. Now, you might think that my laptop must've been a bit too old to make the upgrade, right? No, my laptop is a year old now, and I know technology moves quickly, but surely not that quick.

I have also become more aware of cybersecurity and have recently been evaluating my digital habits. This exploration led me to realize just how much data organisations like Google and Microsoft collect about me. They know where I live, what I want to buy, and what my interests are—the list goes on. This awareness has made me more cautious about who I share my data with. As an aspiring penetration tester, I understand how vulnerable personal information can be. I've seen firsthand how easily someone's life can be disrupted by hacking into a Google account, which often contains a significant portion of their personal information.