Senior author, Open Source enthusiast.

Saturday, June 6, 2020 at 14:32

Easy Security Tools for Ubuntu 20.04 Users

This article brings Focal users easy and secure apps for their computers especially for accessing the internet and storing passwords (and a tool for Android phones). They enable you security and help you live easier with both devices especially if you are a newcomer. They are Tor Browser to protect surfing anonymity regardless country you live in, Dnscrypt to encrypt your internet access, Enigmail to encrypt your emails so only true recipients can read, KeePassXC to store your account credentials so you will not forget any, GSconnect to pair your laptop and phone, and F-Droid on Android. And, you do not need antivirus on Ubuntu. Together they empower Ubuntu users with security. You will see here short instructions to install and use them and several advice you can practice easily.

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This post accompanies my previous Focal Privacy Tips article.

1. Tor Browser

- go to torproject.org/download
- get the "linux" version and you receive a .tar.xz file
- extract the file into your Desktop folder
- you have one file and one folder on desktop ('start-tor-browser.desktop' and 'Browser')
- right-click the file and select Allow Launching
- double click the file
- tor browser running (you can place it on start menu by alacarte)
- happy surfing!

The Onion Router hence Tor is a technology that protects user's anonymity, security, and privacy online from global surveillance and censorship. Its installation procedure changed today by what you saw above without requiring an apt repository anymore. The good news is that this browser includes HTTPS Everywhere by default to enhance traffic security and you can install uBlock Origin by yourself later to block ads.

2. Enigmail

- setup thunderbird with your gmail or any email account (read tutorial)
- setup enigmail addon in thunderbird (read tutorial)
- start mailing securely easily

Do you know emails can be encrypted? That way only the recipient can open it with his own key. Enigmail is a great invention this age that enables such complex thing in easy way right within our beloved mail client Mozilla Thunderbird.

3. GSConnect

- install kde connect on your phone (see next section)
- install gsconnect on ubuntu (read tutorial)
- pair them up
- enjoy your life

With this, you can easily integrate securely your Ubuntu laptop and Android phone via wireless or cable. This makes it easy to transfer data. Not to mention, you can control your cursor remotely with your phone touchscreen for example when doing a presentation. If you are less-mobile oriented, this allows you to text (SMS) your friends from your laptop. It has a lot of features you can learn here.

4. KeePassXC

- sudo apt-get install keepassxc
- create new database
- start storing your Gmail account credentials, save
- store other credentials, save
- close the application
- open the application when you forget an account

Also featured on privacy article, with this, you can save your account credentials safely with one master password only you know so you would never worry anymore forgetting any username or password or login URL. The best case is when you have multiple internet logins which are hard to remember, before logging in, just open this application and peek into for example your Gmail, your social network, your Nextcloud accounts saved and close the application after that. Learn the difference to its predecessor KeePassX.

5. DNSCrypt

- install dnscrypt (read tutorial)
- all applications are now secure

Also featured on privacy article, with Dnscrypt correctly installed, now internet service provider cannot wiretap your connection hence cannot block you particularly in domain name service ways.

6. Encrypt Archive

run archive manager
create an archive file with password (read tutorial)

This built-in app can make encrypted archive file so only you (and person with password) can open and extract its contents similar to the experience of average Microsoft users. Archive formats that support encryption are ZIP and 7Z.

7. F-Droid (Phone Only)

- install f-droid on phone (visit website)
- enable 'guardian project' repositories
- install kde connect mobile version
- install tor browser
- share files using kde connect
- enjoy happy life

Do you have Android phone? If so, install F-Droid on it and start installing applications from it instead from Play Store. F-Droid comes from the same society as Ubuntu they are Free/Libre Open Source Software community. So on laptop you have Ubuntu and on phone you have F-Droid to enable security, privacy, and anonymity exclusively with software you can trust.

8. Antivirus?

GNU/Linux does not have virus and does not need antivirus unlike Microsoft system. So, you do not have to install antivirus on Ubuntu. In fact, many people made this security feature a reason to switch from Windows. It is not alone with this excellent feature as other similar operating system, named BSD, shares same excellency. Even without all security tools mentioned above Ubuntu users are safe to work anywhere with anyone for years without worries on malware and antivirus choices. However, those tools only add security of Ubuntu users better. Happy working!