This question will encompass several topics and may also include user opinion. Here is the question, and how I want you to qualify it:
Question: What is the most "out-of-the-box" secure OS for a home user?
To qualify this, I would want you to answer the following:
- How long is this OS supported for and can I do a rolling update?
- Is this a desktop environment for a home user, or server side OS?
- Does this OS come with pre-deployed security features? (Tor, EncFS File Manager as an example)
- Is this OS only able to run in memory or can it be installed to the hard drive?
There are currently three main operating systems I am looking at for this:
I understand that option 2 and 3 are not the appropriate solution for me. Also, I understand that almost any OS will work for me if I implement the appropriate security changes, such as:
- Secure traffic through the TOR network or use a VPN
- Encrypt your install drive when preparing the system
- Use secure storage such as EncFS
The reason this OS needs to be Linux however is that I am at point's end with all the scrutiny about Microsoft and their OS. I have recently upgraded to Windows 10 and have read several of the new "spying features" that have been included, such as:
Microsoft has collaborated closely with US intelligence services to allow users' communications to be intercepted, including helping the National Security Agency to circumvent the company's own encryption, according to top-secret documents obtained by the Guardian.
I have used several Linux variants in the past and am comfortable enough to ditch Windows entirely for a Linux Distro. I have recently trialled several OS only to have the issue where the PC will not boot after I elect "Install XXXX", but this is another question.