Elonex one+

[jono t]

[]Hi all need some help please just ordered two of these laptops for my kids there the Elonex one+ Linux just need to know how safe they are to use over the internet. thank in advance.

[scotty38]

Safe as in protecting what's out there getting to you or protecting your kids from seeing what's out there?

If it's the former then as safe as you need in my opinion although I would run the firewall regardless.

[jono t]

Hi scotty38 thanks do you also need some kind of antispyware or antiviris programmes with linux os.

[scotty38]

There are AV programs available (ClamAV springs to mind but I think it's mainly command line and not really a setup and forget program and in truth probably designed for use in a mail environment) although it's debatable whether they're really required at all for a normal, home desktop user.

I'll leave you to type "Linux and virus" into google and come to your own conclusion but, personally, I don't use one however don't take that as a recommendation (just in case) :)

[Edge99]

Running a firewall is always a good idea, but it's debatable whether Linux needs AV protection on a normal desktop PC/laptop.

Personally I don't use it on my desktop PC however my server runs ClamAV for scanning incoming mail.

Linux is secure by design, so I wouldn't lose too much sleep by not using AV. Just run the computer using a normal account (ie not the root user!) and you'll be fine.

[jono t]

Hi the laptops will be connected wirelessly through a netgear router which has its own firewall, will the laptops still need there own firewall, and can they use the same isp as the main pc which uses windows vista thanks in advance.

[Edge99]

I just use the firewall on my router too, you can install a separate firewall on each PC if you like, but it's probably not necessary.

I imagine the laptops will use DHCP to auto-configure their network settings from your Netgear router, so it 'should just work' using the same ISP as the Vista box :)

[jono t]

I just use the firewall on my router too, you can install a separate firewall on each PC if you like, but it's probably not necessary.

I imagine the laptops will use DHCP to auto-configure their network settings from your Netgear router, so it 'should just work' using the same ISP as the Vista box :)

Thanks edge99 for you help, much appreciated, (first time using linux) so bit wary of the os.:thumbsup:

[RRB]

here i only have the firewall thats on my router and dont run any AV software either and never had a problem. As has been said always remember to run as a normal user and not as root.