Thursday, April 13, 2023 – Is it really safe to use Linux on an older PC? – Make Windows 11 notifications less irritating

Q&A: Is it really safe to use Linux on an older PC?

Question from Myron:  I’ve noticed that you often recommend replacing Windows with Linux on older computers.

If it’s unsafe to run Windows on a machine once it reaches a certain age, how can it be safe to run Linux on it? If a computer is unsafe it’s unsafe, right? What am I missing?

Rick’s answer:  Myron, it isn’t the computer hardware that makes an older PC unsafe to use. It’s the version of Windows that’s installed on it.

The problem arises when Microsoft essentially abandons older Windows versions by halting the distribution of security updates for them.

If they wanted to they could keep supplying those critical updates virtually forever and the physical computer itself would be just as safe and secure as it always was. But at some point Microsoft always stops expending resources on updating older Windows versions.

Once those versions stop receiving security updates they quickly become vulnerable to hackers as new security holes are discovered in the code (and this always happens).

So far several versions of Windows (everything from Windows 3.1 to early versions of Windows 10) have been abandoned, and are therefore now unsafe.

The reason you can safely run Linux on those old machines is most Linux distros are continually receiving security updates. In a nutshell, if a computer is capable of running a mainstream version of Linux you can rest assured that the machine will be safe to use.

Bottom line: Linux makes an excellent replacement operating system for abandoned versions of Windows because it is constantly being updated to patch newly-discovered security holes.

I hope this helps, Myron. Thanks for a great question.

The latest from Rick’s Daily Tips Tech Blog…

• How to make the notifications you receive in Windows 11 less irritating

The video in this post shows how, step-by-step.

• Q&A: What’s the quickest way to delete browser cookies?

It’s a simple keystroke combination.

• Click here to see today’s ‘Picture of the Day’.

Every morning I post a new photo that I find inspiring, intriguing, or just plain beautiful to look at. Jumpstart your day by checking it out.

Rick’s Daily Pick…

TESSAN Surge Protector w/ 11 Outlets & 3 USB Charging Ports

Did I mention that this thing is awesome? It’s quite simply the handiest device in my office.

Today’s post from ‘My Daily Smile’…

Time is both precious and fleeting. Use it wisely.

It slips away all too fast.

Tech news that caught my eye…

• LinkedIn will now verify your identity and employer

• Truecaller brings live caller ID to iPhone… but with a catch

• Google TV takes on Roku with over 800 included TV channels

• US government orders its workers to update their iPhones immediately

• DIY IBM Selectric type balls give ’60s typewriters new life

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Your tech buddy,

Rick Rouse
https://www.ricksdailytips.com