Windows XP was released in 2001 as the successor to Windows NT. It was the geeky server version that contrasted with the consumer oriented Windows 95, which transitioned to Windows Vista by 2003.
Where Windows 95 was pioneering window transitions and soft look and feel, Windows XP was intended to be a more nuts-and-bolts interface. Less attention was spent on UI features and more attention on security and processing.
In retrospect, the key feature of Windows XP is the simplicity. While it encapsulated the beginnings of User Access Control, advanced Network drivers and Plug-and-Play configuration, it never made a show of these features. The relatively simple UI was easy to learn and internally consistent.
On the Windows 95 side, Microsoft spent years trying to make PCs user friendly, (Remember Microsoft Bob?) they have always failed in this endeavor. Instead of being simpler, they simply make UI controls that are harder to master; filmy and foamy layers on top of the simple core that is running the OS.
No wonder so many people hold on to their old XP computers long after the OS is insecure.
Windows 10 is a dog! There is no arguing that it is the worst OS experience ever created. Not only are there filmy and foamy layers, Microsoft is constantly updating it to force features that you do not even want. At least once a week we get a customer who reports their computer was completely bricked by a Windows 10 update. Windows 10 is a garbage heap mudslide. It is a costly time-wasting endeavor by Microsoft to try to establish that you somehow NEED to get updates every month for something other than the bug fixes required for the garbage they forced on you the prior month.
Turn off One-Drive, for instance, and you’ll find that two updates later, it is turned on again. Turn off Cortana, which no one uses, and two updates later it is not only back on, but it is sucking up 30% of your CPU making your computer run slowly.
With Windows XP, you could see in the system monitor that about 8 processes were running and they used less than 1% of CPU and disk bandwidth. For windows 10, there are more than 200 processes and they commonly use 30-50% of your CPU and disk IO. Whenever I start drilling down on these processes I can see they are features I never want; Cortana, One Note, Xbox Game Bar, Your Phone, Groove Music.
What Microsoft should do is run what their success. Offer a stripped-down simple OS. When people say I want Linux” they don’t actually mean the buggy hopelessly arcane OS created by Linus Torvalds. What they are saying is a simple basic UI and driver set that is fast, easy and stable.
Why Windows XP was better than Windows 10 was last modified: June 18th, 2020 by Wayland Bruns
Mobiles have transcended their status as palm-sized communication devices. Now known as smartphones, modern devices have, in many ways, become super-computers that never leave our sides. With so much invested in our mobiles, security is paramount. Having a phone without protection is like walking onto a construction site without a hardhat. Yes, you might be ok. However, would you really feel safe?
Just like a construction site, there are many dangers within the mobile space. Even though you might not be a direct target at any given time, you could be a target and that’s what you need to protect yourself against. Ask yourself this: would you leave your mobile sitting on a table in a coffee shop without a passcode? Most of us would say no. Leaving aside the fact someone might steal your phone, the reality is that you have too much sensitive data on there to not have a password.
Indeed, you can take this a step further and apply the same logic to apps. From Facebook and Gmail to your banking apps, passwords and passcodes are a necessity in the mobile realm. However, these are minimum requirements in today’s world. If you really want to stay safe, embracing the latest innovations is important.
Securing Apps is Essential
Moving beyond the basics, TouchID is a great way to protect your device and, more recently, your apps. For example, when you visit the Paddy Power online website, you’ll find a link to the Apple Store. Here, you can download the operator’s mobile app and get full access to games like Buffalo Blitz, Premium Blackjack and Live Spin A Win. What you also get is the ability to make deposits and withdrawals. Just as you can credit money to your account via the website, you can do the same on the app. With this feature in place, real money mobile gaming is possible.
Therefore, just as you’d want to secure banking apps and eWallets like PayPal, you’ll want to protect your gaming app. To this end, Paddy Power has added TouchID to its app. By using this instead of a password, you not only get quicker access to what’s inside but the added security of fingerprints rather than text.
Cybercriminals Have a New Target
It used to be the case that cybercriminals couldn’t or wouldn’t target mobile devices. However, with more people using smartphones than before, they’re now rich pickings. According to Kaspersky, there were 3.5 million malicious installation packages downloaded to mobiles in 2019. Add to this 69,777 new mobile banking trojans and 68,362 ransomware threats and it’s clear to see that mobile antivirus software is now a must. However, even though many of the major security brands like Kaspersky and Avast offer free mobile antivirus software, few of us use it. Despite being standard practice on desktop devices, we’re not yet conditioned to download these products onto our mobiles.
Yes, the number of mobile threats is still low compared to the desktop realm. Moreover, mobiles tend to have a greater degree of internal protection thanks to Apple et al. However, mobile antivirus software is becoming more important. Indeed, it all plays into the narrative that mobiles are the new computers. That’s why we have passwords, passcodes, and fingerprint protection. We live so much of our lives through phones that we have to secure them like we do computers. This means antivirus software will soon become standard. Moreover, it will lead to more innovations and ideas in the coming years as we look to make our mobiles more secure than ever.
Modern Mobile Security Now Mirrors Its Desktop Counterparts was last modified: December 15th, 2020 by Evelina Popova
There’s no escape from the fact that cyber crime has encapsulated the entire world. With a professional software and multiple conning techniques, criminals can easily hack your phone at any time. If you are someone who sleeps next to his phone, this means you have emotional attachment with your device. Just like you build a firewall on your laptop to protect it from getting hacked, it is equally imperative to build some walls in the phone to keep it safe.
If you have a lot of personal data
stored in apps, you must go the extra mile to enhance the security of your
phone. In this article, we will guide you through four ways through which you
can improve your phone’s safety.
1.Set a Strong Password
You will be shocked to know that
close friends and relatives are often the first people who hound your phone all
the time. This means if you set a password that is inclusive of your first name
or date of birth, your phone might get hacked by a close person in your
absence. This is the main reason why you need a very strong and discreet
password for your phone. Strong passwords that have multiple letters and signs
are very difficult to open. Never share your password with a friend or anyone you
trust the most. You never know about the change in somebody’s intention.
2.Install a Phone Tracking App
In case you lose your phone, you need
to have something that can help you in tracking it as soon as possible. There
are multiple apps that allow one to track the location of his/her phone in
real-time. All you need to do is install a phone tracking app such as mspy in
your phone and connect it with the same app in your laptop. This way, when
somebody might steal your phone, you will be able to track the location and
catch the criminal. Many people are confused whethermspy free trial version
myth or reality? However it is a concrete app that has served thousands of
people in the last decade.
3.Encrypt Your Phone
Phone encryption is imperative in
today’s time when hackers can easily gain access to your data despite a strong
password on it. Encryption is a process that converts the phone data into a
format that doesn’t allow any unauthorized individual to access sensitive data
without a phone key. This is very important if an unauthorized person gains
access to your phone and tries to chuck out important information from inside.
Luckily, some androids have a built-in encryption feature, however, many of
them don’t have it. Therefore it is crucial to encrypt your phone as soon as
you read this blog.
4.Revisit Your App’s Security Section
Have you ever noticed why the photo
editing app requested you to allow access to the contacts list? Do you find it
weird when a gaming application requests access to the pictures and other
media? You’re asking yourself the right questions. Keep in mind; you are always
in charge of navigating movements of such applications in your phone. Whenever
you install an app, never allow it complete access on your phone. If you have
the latest version of Android, go to settings, visit Apps section and then
select any app you want. Click on the permission button and undo all
permissions you are skeptical about.
So these were a few tips you need to
consider if you want to enhance the security of your mobile phones. In today’s
day and age, people conduct business transactions on their phones that is why
it is important to take necessary measures to magnify the security wall.
Four Ways to Improve Security on Your Android was last modified: November 20th, 2019 by Austin Dease
Many people conduct their businesses online. It’s a fast and popular method, which brings many dividends. One of the most important parts of successful business promotion is the content. Every website should be stuffed with proper documents and informative blogs, articles, and other papers. Besides, a website owner is supposed to write emails, reports, reviews and so on. They are necessary when a businessman works with partners, clients, and suppliers. Therefore, properly developed writing skills are of great importance.
Not all people are gifted in writing. The others may have problems with business writing, which is formal, strict, and professional. Such people have to look for some possible solutions. Of course, they have to practice every day and read appropriate literature to become experts. Some of them use online help.
There is an essay writing service which can help to boost the writing productivity of any business platform. The experts write thematic business papers that fully suit the purposes of clients. They are of exceptional quality and unique. All the orders are written on time, private data is secured, and we set fair prices. Feel free to visit a professional essay writing company to find out more details. You will be satisfied with the capabilities, which will bring your business website to the new quality level.
We can also recommend several tips. They are good enough to boost your writing productivity with your own effort. Be attentive and try to use them properly.
Organize Your Thoughts
It’s essential to be always organized and understand what you’re supposed to do. Before you even begin to write, you should identify some important issues. These are as follows:
The main message;
Effective ways to deliver it;
Understanding your audience;
When and where to apply;
What are possible problems;
How to overcome problems, etc.
Keep these points in your mind and organize your thoughts. Thus, you’ll know how to start and what to write about.
Be Concise and Logical
Business papers differ from other pieces. They are not some sort of storytelling. They always get right to the main question of the paper. Therefore, follow this simple but important rule. Don’t write too long sentences, as well as long paragraphs. If you have done so, see how you can divide them into smaller pieces. Short sentences and paragraphs make any text more readable and pleasant to the eye.
Never go astray. Once you have reported the main purpose of your paper, stick to it. Don’t write pointless sentences that don’t affect the topic of your paper. All the explanations and examples must fully suit your topic.
Avoid Unknown Words
Some folks adore playing with words. This habit negatively reflects on their writing. They begin to use too many unknown and overly “wise” words. It is understood that if you write about business, you ought to use certain terms and definitions, which belong to it. Most people may not understand them and so, a good writer explains them. If they are inevitable, provide clear examples and explanations.
However, don’t write too many unfamiliar words. Otherwise, your text will be a real mess of explanations. Cut out jargon, professional terms, slang, and similar words. Use them only when they MUST be used. Other terms can be substituted with common and well-known words.
Use Active Voice
It’s also vital to cut out passive voice to a few sentences per text. Active voice is much better for most papers and business is no exception. Why is it better than passive constructions? Firstly, the active voice makes our speech more dynamic and faster. Secondly, the passive voice takes more words to finish our thoughts.
Compare two plain examples:
Passive: The book was read by me.
Active: I read the book.
It is easy to see that an active construction took fewer words to finish the sentence. Consequently, it affects the way your text looks like. Your sentences will be shorter, which won’t make them unreadable. Besides, it will be comfortable and quick to read them. Of course, your readers will likewise understand your message better as well. Lengthy texts may take away their concentration and attention.
Be Attentive and Professional
Always give heed to the names, gender, positions, titles and similar essentials. Your documents should be formal and professional. When you turn to other people, make sure you know their full names, ranks, and some responsibilities. If you are precise, people will notice it and will be grateful for your attention.
If you want to engage a person in your writing, use the pronoun “you”. The practice shows that people become more interested in what they read if the author turns to them like “As you can see…”, “You may notice…”, “You are welcome to…”, etc.
State a Clear Call-to-Action
Every business document has a “call-to-action”. It clarifies the main intention of the author. He or she may want to:
Advertise;
Sell;
Buy;
Invite;
Encourage;
Engage, etc.
Regardless of your purpose, this sentence or two should be straight to the point and clear. Use proper language that fits the content of your paper and deliver a plain message of what you expect the readers should do.
Memorize these tips. They are universal and can suit any business direction you choose. Use them wisely and you’ll gradually become a great business report writer. Besides, seek other methods and writing activities to improve the productivity of your business in other aspects.
How to Improve Writing Skills for Your Small Business Productivity was last modified: October 7th, 2019 by Sergey
Communication is an integral part of the business process. You
have to keep in contact with all colleagues, employees, employers, and clients
to ensure everything is running smoothly. Digitization of the real-world tasks
has made things easier, faster, and more efficient. There is, however, one
drawback that came with it. It has made us more vulnerable to security threats.
Digital platforms aren’t very secure unless you take additional precautionary
measures. Here I have shared how you can keep your voice and video data secure
from unauthorized access.
Get a Secure VoIP System
VoIP is an efficient communication system that uses hardware
and software with a medium of internet. You can make audio calls and send files
to other people connected to the same network. Many businesses are using a VoIP
system for communication within their organization. It is considered secure as
only a selected number of people can access it. Acquire services of the best VoIP company to ensure no outside
threat can breach your security. A good VoIP company has features of advanced
cloud-based technology, HD voice quality, customizable service options, and
extra layers of protection.
Use an IPS
Installing a powerful firewall and an additional Intrusion Prevention System will make it
difficult for unauthorized users to access your system. The IPS will monitor the
entire network and filter all unauthorized, unusual, and insecure activities. A
lot is done while filtering these three things. It leaves almost no possible
way for an exploiter to enter your system. A new user trying to access information
isn’t something an IPS can’t notice. As soon as it will detect anything like
this, it will block it and notify the administrator.
Encrypt Your Transmission
Encryption is the most reliable method to secure a communication
line. A hacker might be able to break into your system, but he won’t be able to
get any information if your data is encrypted. Encryption is a process that converts
data into an unreadable format. This data is decrypted only when it reaches its
destination that has the key to turn it into its original form. Usually a
powerful cipher encrypts the data, and a decipher to decrypt it – both use the
same key generated by the system.
Create User Profiles
Make your communication network limited to only relevant
actors. Create user profiles of all employees that work in your organization
and allow only them to make a call or share files. This will ensure the overall
security of your system. The exploiter will be left with only choice to hack an
employee’s account, and that’s also not as easy it may sound.
Restrict Calls
Have your IT manager configure dial plans of the system you
use and restrict
communication to ensure even an insider can’t do any harm. This step will allow
only a defined type of communication in only a specified manner. You can allow
only eligible devices or users to make calls. It will also give you the option
to authorize access only at specific periods of time. You know the timings of
your employees and when they need to send a file or make calls. If you restrict
the schedules, no one will be able to exploit your system even he has access to
a user account.
How to Secure Your Voice and Video Data was last modified: September 18th, 2019 by Jessica Davison
The 21st century has never been known as the age of safety. From the silent hackers on the net and the countless commercials for various security agencies, we are constantly reminded to defend ourselves against a possible threat.
Millions of identity theft cases are reported each year. You are a victim of those cases if someone uses your data, such as credit card information, to commit criminal deeds. Identity theft organizations pledge to protect you from these and other similar situations. But before you leave all your personal information in the care of security agencies, take a minute to think if you need their services.
The Services
Before you run off to an identity theft protection company, ask yourself if you know what it is they do exactly. In most cases, these agencies offer three primary services. These are monitoring, alerting, and recovery.
Monitoring
Identity theft companies monitor all your credit, and other accounts you left in their care. In case something unusual occurs, they will alert you right away.
Alerting
If someone tries to use your info for their gain, security agencies will know. Therefore, so will you. In most identity theft cases, people are not aware that a breach happened until it’s a little too late.
Recovery
Just like with other crime victims, like those affected by identity theft, for example, will be offered help if a security breach occurs. Identity theft protection services offer you insurance policies for stolen money. Some agencies can recover up to 1 million dollars from unauthorized transactions.
DIY
If you take a moment to think about it, you might notice that the essential services of identity security companies can be done without their assistance. You don’t need help to keep track of your credit score and other bank details.
As soon as you realize that someone stole your information for personal use, you can, and should, contact a federal agency. And after you have alerted the authorities, you can freeze all your accounts by contacting the bank.
The Need for Identity Insurance
While the steps to protect yourself from identity fraud seem simple and easy to manage, this type of crime occurs more often than we want to admit. Your online presence leaves a mark, and all trails lead back to you. Identity security agencies observe and make sure that no one traces the clues back to your info.
If you were a victim of this type of crime, then you should seek the help of professionals. And security agencies are not for individual faces only. Some packages cover the whole family.
Keeping track of your credit records can be an exhausting task, but following the spending of the entire family can be overwhelming. If you feel more secure to leave your data in the care of professional hands, then you have no reason to seek the help of an agency.
Should You Get Identity Insurance?
These security agencies offer legal services for legitimate threats. Although you can perform their essential functions on your own, this should not hinder you from seeking help if you feel the need. They can monitor multiple credit records for you. If you have fallen victim to this crime, you will be notified, and the agency will help you to recover the money.
Do You Need Identity Theft Protection was last modified: September 11th, 2019 by Steve Jones
In the
world, where one can have access to the Internet everywhere, and the Internet
of Things is being developed, we can only predict the further expansion of the
World Wide Web in our lives. But the Internet is not only about opportunities;
it’s often about dangers and risks, especially for the inexperienced users –
the kids.
Here is some
information to consider to help your tween to browse safely.
1. Everything you put there is forever
The Internet
is an open place, where anyone can leave a footprint. It means that what you
post online can stay on the Internet forever. Without realizing the
consequences, children can share embarrassing photos and data of themselves and
their friends.
What can you do? Not to let strangers view sensitive
data (address, phone number, etc.) of your child, you need to ensure the
strictest level of security. It is advised to make profiles private and limit access to
personal details
for friends only.
2. Anyone can reach you
If a child
puts their mobile number online, anyone can call them or send a message. We
often receive calls from unknown numbers and children are especially vulnerable
to strangers and bullies who don’t mind to impose and call.
What can you do? Ask the child to delete personal
data like a phone number from their online pages. If your kid keeps receiving
unwanted calls, you can find out who’s calling by using GetContact app. You can
also block the caller forever with parental control app.
3. Your password can be hacked
The Internet
is a tricky thing. One day you can communicate with friends and chat in groups,
while the other day you find that your account is hacked. Hacking is a frequent
yet unpleasant phenomenon. When you find your password cracked, you can only
imagine what data can hackers now steal.
What can you do? Changing passwords once in six
months may help your child protect their social accounts from a hack. Help your
kid to create a complicated password. Also, set up two-step verification to
make sure no one can access the account except your child.
4. Your photos and files can be gone forever
As much as
everything stays on the Internet, it can be lost forever. All the images, videos
and other data you exchange with friends can be deleted, and you won’t even be
able to restore it.
What can you do? Back up your data. It is best to
invest in a portable hard drive and keep your files stored there safely. So, no
one can obtain access to it, and your kid’s valuable data won’t be lost.
5. Strangers can steal your pictures
Once you create your account on social media, you can start
chatting literally with anyone. As anyone can text you in apps like Snapchat
and Twitter, you can make many new friends. But not all of them are
trustworthy. Sometimes scammers and predators pretend to be your kid’s peers to
fool them into sharing personal images.
What can you do?
Tell your child not to share any photos and other information with questionable online friends. Any data sent to wrong people may be used against your child. Someone can share their embarrassing images, for example. Make sure your kid understands the responsibility and don’t trust strangers who text them online.
Top 5 Things To Tell Your Tween About Cyber Safety was last modified: August 19th, 2019 by Kathy Brellan
Over 60% of people use mobile phones instead of laptop or
desktop computers to connect to the internet. They are always accessible and
more in use. Scammer target mobile phones because they can get more
personalized information of the user. There are over a dozen types of scams,
and every year we encounter new methods invented by exploiters. This article is
about protecting you and your family by keeping your mobile phone secured.
Install only Safe Apps
Mobile applications are not very difficult to build and
launch on app stores. Scammers build one app and create its several copies to
upload on the store with different names. They usually disguise their virus
with a name that people might find useful. An app can access almost every part
of your device once installed. Validate whether the application you are about
to install is legit or not. See the user reviews it has got. If there are no
reviews, don’t trust it. Usually, legit app developers have a website to
showcase their work. Consider it a fake app if you believe that developers
haven’t provided proper details about it.
Never Open a Link from Stranger
You may receive a link on one of your social media profiles
or through SMS from an unknown person. Never open such link; it’s most probably
a ‘Phishing Scam’. You are redirected to a web page that either has a virus on
it or a form asking for your information. Every mobile user understands the
risk of providing personal information on an unknown platform. So they make the
page look like a familiar platform. Sometimes, they may lure you in by offering
something in return with a background story. Don’t even open such a link to be
safe if it comes from a stranger.
Educate Yourself
Scammers will keep coming up with innovative ways to
accomplish their evil goals. Essential tips will protect you from current scams
to some extent. You need to have a better understanding of online security for
which education is important. There are institutes like Inspired E-Learning that offer a library of online security courses for people
like you. You don’t have to be a network engineer to learn these courses; it’s
for the safety of you and your family.
Be Aware of One Ring Scam
Ever received a call from an unknown number which hangs up
right after one bell? Hundreds of thousands of people have! Scammer ring you to
create curiosity hoping you would call them back. You are charged with premium
rates when you do call them. It’s called ‘One Ring Scam’. They always call you
from different numbers and most probably an international one.
Use Two Factor Authentication on Google Account
Your Google account is deeply connected to your mobile phone
especially if you are an android user. All your synced data is stored in your
Google account. You must keep it secured to keep your mobile secured. Enable
two-factor authentication to log in to your account. This way
scammer can’t access it even if he has the password because he will also need
to authenticate himself with the second factor like a text message.
Install an Antivirus
Antivirus companies have
engineers researching all types of viruses. They create antivirus definitions
to defend against every single virus. They study the behavior of viruses to
identify and stop them when found in your device. This is why it is crucial to have
an antivirus installed on your mobile phone. If possible, install only a
premium well-reputed antivirus and keep it up to date. Free or outdated
antiviruses won’t be able to cope with the new scams.
How to Keep Your Phone Safe from Scammers was last modified: April 17th, 2020 by Austin Dease
Spam can be very dangerous for website visitors as it is used to collect personal data which spammers then use at their discretion. Spam messages often contain links to third-party resources of cyber criminals. If you click on them, you can share some confidential information: logins, passwords, bank card number, ID data, etc. The presence of such spam in the comments of your site may damage the efficiency and reputation of your website. That is the reason why spam protection is required.
How to Organize Your Spam Protection?
The easiest way to protect the
website from undesirable letters is to use various plugins. We suggest you get
acquainted with some of them which can easily detect spam IP and blacklist it.
Of course, you can try to avoid the
spam, using some simple methods, such as the disabling the comments function,
restricting access, or even “captcha”. However, it is suitable only for
non-profit, single-page, and landing sites. Users are more likely to leave
feedback if they do not need to go through a long and boring process of
verification. So when choosing a plugin, consider what methods it uses to
verify data to make the site surfing as comfortable as possible.
In addition to spam in your site
comments, your site may occur to be infected with a spam script. As a result,
you can lose your reputation and get sanctions from searching services and it
will not be available for visiting. That is why it is desirable to know that
your site is “clean”. To find it out, you can use CleanTalk, which also
provides the domain/IP checking of spam activity.
1.
CleanTalk
CleanTalk is a cloud-based
protection system for restricting spam in comments, during registration,
mailing via contact forms and creating trackbacks. Also, the plugin filters
orders, widgets and email newsletters. It doesn’t use captcha or other
techniques. The plugin operation procedure uses the following criteria:
The user`s comments have previously
been blacklisted;
The comment contains a link that is
on the blacklist;
There is a request to enable
JavaScript;
The comment is too fast for a person.
The CleanTalk plugin also provides
analytic information on its website. The developers also state that the
probability of false positives for this filter is 0.001%.
2.WP Spam-Shield Anti-Spam
Works with all popular and
e-commerce plugins on the site;
Protects against spam bots and
malicious letters;
Operates with JS / Cookies Anti-Spam
Layer and Algorithmic Anti-Spam Layer;
Promises zero false positives;
Uses a spam queue filter, which
analyzes the information before it enters the WordPress database;
Stops spam registration attempts.
3.Akismet
Spam guard for all WordPress sites
by default. The plugin is a solution to protect the site without charges.
Automatically check the comments and
use filters;
Comment history is saved, which
allows the user to check if his or her comment has been marked as spam;
Supports the ability to eliminate
spam completely;
Supports 24 languages.
As you see, spam protection is a vital topic for Internet
security. Ask your questions in comments if you have them.
How to Protect Your Site from Undesirable Spam was last modified: August 16th, 2019 by Hillary Walker
There are quite a few different
operating systems out there. They have their own pros and cons since they’re
all different and unique. Two of the most popular ones are Windows and Linux.
Most users are aware of one or both operating systems and familiar with the
advantages and disadvantages of using either of the two. However, sometimes
some programs and software just run better on a specific operating system.
That’s why you find so many people trying to run Windows software on Linux
computers. On the other hand, you’re also likely to find many people who want
to run Linux software on Windows computers.
Linux has quite a few benefits over Windows. A few
prominent ones are that it supports power command-line tools and also benefits
the development environment. There are many different ways to run Linux
software on your Windows computer. Here are a few ways you can do so:
Cygwin (Partial Linux Environment)
If you’re looking to run a few crucial Linux utilities
on Windows and don’t really care about running a whole Linux window on a
Windows desktop, then Cygwin might be right for you. Cygwin offers a range of
tools that emulate what Linux has to offer but on Windows. It can’t, however, run
existing Linux software on Windows desktops. The software will likely have to
be recompiled. Luckily, a lot of software has already been recompiled and you
can use Linux-like commands and terminals, offering similar command-line
programs as you might have previously used on Linux desktops
Installing Virtually (VMs)
Using virtual machines, you can basically run any
operating system within a window on your desktop. It’s that simple. The first
thing you need to do is install any virtual machine app, like VirtualBox or
VMware Player. Then, you need to install a Linux distribution such as Ubuntu
onto the virtual machine. This is done the same way as installations are
carried out onto your normal desktop and windows machine.
Adopting this method allows you to boot up your Linux
software straight from the desktop. You don’t need to reboot your system every
time you want to run Linux on Windows. If you’d like an even more immersive
interface and want your windows to be located in the Windows desktop instead of
the separate virtual machine window, you could opt to use VirtualBox’s seamless
mode or VMware player’s unity mode. This would allow you to run Linux
applications directly on your desktop.
Furthermore, this method can run pretty much everything
excluding games and 3D software, so it’s super useful. Due to the limitation,
virtual machines have with 3D effects, you might be better off not using Ubuntu
since it has 3D effects in the desktop interface which might lead to
instability and rough running of programs. It might make the whole system laggy
— no one wants that. So, it would be smart to install some Ubuntu derivative.
Xubuntu is a pretty good choice considering it doesn’t run any of those 3D
effects and it’s light and efficient.
Installing Linux Distributions through Wubi
Unlike the previous solution I mentioned, this method
actually involves directly installing Linux on the Windows desktop and doesn’t
just involve running Linux-like tools and utilities on Windows. Technically,
this means that you’ll have to restart your system every time you want to use
Ubuntu.
The benefit of using Wubi to install Ubuntu, however,
is that it doesn’t require you to create a whole different partition like it
would normally be required for a standard dual-boot system. Instead, it uses a
file located in the Windows partition and this file acts as the “Ubuntu drive”.
You can simply uninstall Wubi directly from the control panel when you’re done,
thereby deleting Ubuntu from your system safely and with ease. Also, it offers
better performance than using Linux on virtual machines but it doesn’t perform
as well as using a dual-boot configuration.
Ported and Compiled Programs (Partial)
If you’re just looking for some programs from Linux
that you really miss and could use, you can simply search for ported and
compiled Linux programs for Windows. It’s highly likely that someone has
already ported it and you’ll be able to use it directly on Windows. If not,
well, hopefully, it won’t take long for someone to get around to it. Or maybe
you could do it yourself, if you know how to, that is.
Distributions (Linux Based)
coLinux, also known as Cooperative Linux, allows you to run Linux directly beside the Windows kernel. This grants you much better performance than using virtual machines. However, the catch is that it only works with 32-bit Windows systems, and doesn’t currently support 64-bit systems. This renders this option a bit outdated. But, if you don’t mind using 32-bit Windows, this might be right for you.
5 ways to Use Linux on a Windows Computer was last modified: August 8th, 2019 by Brian Stone
