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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Encrypt whole system? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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My laptop isn't under my supervision most of the time. And I'd hate it if someone were to steal my SSD, or whole laptop even, when I'm not around. Is there a way to encrypt everything, but still keep the device in sleep, and unclock it without much delay. It's a very slow laptop. So decryption on login isn't viable, takes too long. While booting up also takes forever, so it needs to be in a "safe" state when simply logged out. Maybe a way that's decrypt-on-demand?

I'm on Arch with KDE.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

To add to the comments, most distros do not offer FDE by default when installing. You have to jump thru hoops. No idea why this is still the case given how many consumer computers are laptops these days, it seems crazy.

The big exception seems to be PopOS, an Ubuntu derivative which is intended for laptops. FDE by default so it must be pretty easy to get that up and running.

Ubuntu itself has a solid FDE option on install, too. It sets up the LVM configuration as already described, no expertise needed. And IME works very reliably.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

openSUSE also has a simple FDE setup. Just check a box and enter a passphrase during install. It's not default, but it's about as easy as possible to set up.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Useful to know, thanks.

For the record, I once had a bad experience with the Debian installer's version. That is why I will not be trying Debian again. Installation is a moment of vulnerability, when you don't have ready access to your data, or the network, and this is one extra factor. IMO it really is non-negotiable for a distro to provide a bulletproof installation experience.

[–] sudo 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I'm pretty sure all the major distros have FDE as an option in the installer its just never on by default. Fedora does the same but with BTRFS on LUKS. I'm sure Debian does. Someone else says OpenSuse does. Maybe some derivative distros don't but I suspect the ones with an graphical installer do.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

its just never on by default

Except PopOS, as I understand it. IMO that is a major point in its favor and against its competitors, given the dominance of laptops today. I see no reason why this is still opt-in, rather than opt-out as on mobile OSs.

[–] sudo 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I think PopOS can safely assume that its being installed on a laptop with only one drive. If there's multiple drives involved then the setup gets far more complicated as you then must go to something like an LUKS on LVM setup. Basically, for a desktop there's no safe defaults for FDE.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Sure, but in that case the default encryption could easily be switched off for multiple-drive setups. Basically, the default setting is what's important.