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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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New Linux user here. Is this really how I'm supposed to install apps on Linux? (feddit.uk)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

260 comments fedilink hide all child comments

https://mullvad.net/en/help/install-mullvad-app-linux

Trying to install VPN and these are the instructions Mullvad is giving me. This is ridiculous. There must be a more simple way. I know how to follow the instructions but I have no idea what I'm doing here. Can't I just download a file and install it? I'm on Ubuntu.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Its more secure to go through a package manager. Checking signatures is important.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

You can verify the signature of the manual download as well. Either way, you are trusting the files you download over HTTPS from mullvad.net. There's no real difference, except that when you use the repo, you are trusting it indefinitely, whereas if you download the deb directly, you are only trusting it once.

Using the repo is less secure, because it opens you to future attacks against the repo itself.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Https is vulnerable to loads of attack. That's why we sign packages.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

You're downloading the signing key over HTTPS either way, from the same server. That's the common point of failure.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

That's why you download the key from multiple distinct domains from multiple distinct locations using multiple distinct devices and veryify their fingerprints match. If the key/fingerprint is only available on one domain, open a bug report with the maintainer.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

Agreed.

Unfortunately, Mullvad's instructions just have you download the key from mullvad.net and add it in with no further validation.

You can also get it from their GitHub page, at least for the individual debs. Not sure if they have the repo key on GitHub.