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On Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 9:04 AM, Frank Peters <frank.peters@×××××××.net> wrote: |
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> |
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> The problem with all Linux distributions, and not just Gentoo, is that |
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> they are directed toward a multi-user, networked environment. As a |
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> consequence, they exhibit security and other features that generally |
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> make no sense whatsoever for a single-user desktop machine that optionally |
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> connects externally only with an ISP through a router/modem. |
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>... |
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> My system is configured in a way that is quite contrary |
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> to recommended Linux practice (for example I run only and always as the |
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> root superuser and have no need for file permissions) but yet it makes |
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> perfect sense for my situation. |
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> |
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Keep in mind that there are many elements to data security. Not |
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beeing pwned by script kiddies is certainly one of them, and that |
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doesn't really apply so much to the single-user desktop. However, if |
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you take a broader definition of data security then things become more |
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nuanced. |
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|
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Let's define data security as "the prevention of unintended |
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destruction or dissemination of data stored on a system, or an |
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unintended loss of system functionality." |
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When you use a broader definition then security really ought to be |
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important to the single-user desktop. Features that should be |
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considered important include: |
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* Disaster recovery / backups / etc. |
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* Prevention of unintentional system changes (ie don't be root) |
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* Robustness in the face of or rapid recovery from common failure |
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modes (ie RAID, rapid restoration, etc). |
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* Protection from whatever is lurking in that banner ad your browser |
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just downloaded (ie SSP/SELinux/etc). |
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So, I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss security. My only |
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personally-owned laptop is a Chromebook and its features include being |
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trivial to restore to factory condition, having all data backed up |
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online continuously, having full-disk encryption, and having automatic |
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updates to keep all of that stuff working. That certainly isn't the |
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only model for a desktop machine, but from a data-security standpoint |
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it is about as good as it gets, and it is the result of a design that |
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keeps security in mind. |
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|
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Rich |
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