Where to find factual resources for newbies; esp. for security

[Artim]

I think it was Linus Torvaldes (inventor of the Linux kernel) who once said,

"Computers are like air conditioners.  Once you open Windows, they're useless."

I think a good rule of thumb, no matter what operating system you're using, is that if it's connected to the Internet, expect no more privacy than a goldfish.  You can insist on HTTPS for every website, but other than that I just follow the rule of thumb. I also would be really careful with adding a lot of software that doesn't "come with Linux Lite" by default.  It's an ingenious mixture that combines simplicity and beauty with speed and thrifty use of resources.  Unless you have a computer that can handle all that stuff running in the background without slowing down, it's not worth it.  My desktop is a hand-me-down, one step up from a freakin' abacus for goodnessakes, yet it runs Linux Lite faster and better than WinXP on the same machine when it was brand new.  It does so because I don't mess with it too much, other than adding a couple of cool tools from Ralphy's treasure chest, and swapping resource-hungry Firefox and Thunderbird for the nimble and speedy Seamonkey suite.