update: Remove mentions of transactional updates and X11 utilities (#…

…2682) Signed-off-by: Jonah Aragon <[email protected]> Signed-off-by: Daniel Gray <[email protected]>
privacyguides · Aug 2, 2024 · 42b75c9 · 42b75c9
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@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ Linux distributions are commonly recommended for privacy protection and software
 
 ![Fedora logo](assets/img/linux-desktop/fedora.svg){ align=right }
 
-**Fedora Workstation** is our recommended distribution for people new to Linux. Fedora generally adopts newer technologies before other distributions e.g., [Wayland](https://wayland.freedesktop.org), [PipeWire](https://pipewire.org). These new technologies often come with improvements in security, privacy, and usability in general.
+**Fedora Workstation** is our recommended distribution for people new to Linux. Fedora generally adopts newer technologies before other distributions e.g., [Wayland](https://wayland.freedesktop.org) and [PipeWire](https://pipewire.org). These new technologies often come with improvements in security, privacy, and usability in general.
 
 [:octicons-home-16: Homepage](https://fedoraproject.org/workstation){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
 [:octicons-info-16:](https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/docs){ .card-link title=Documentation}
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Fedora has a semi-rolling release cycle. While some packages like [GNOME](https:
 
 **openSUSE Tumbleweed** is a stable rolling release distribution.
 
-openSUSE Tumbleweed has a [transactional update](https://kubic.opensuse.org/blog/2018-04-04-transactionalupdates) system that uses [Btrfs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Btrfs) and [Snapper](https://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Snapper_Tutorial) to ensure that snapshots can be rolled back should there be a problem.
+openSUSE Tumbleweed uses [Btrfs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Btrfs) and [Snapper](https://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Snapper_Tutorial) to ensure that snapshots can be rolled back should there be a problem.
 
 [:octicons-home-16: Homepage](https://get.opensuse.org/tumbleweed){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
 [:octicons-info-16:](https://doc.opensuse.org){ .card-link title=Documentation}
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ Tumbleweed follows a rolling release model where each update is released as a sn
 
 ![Arch logo](assets/img/linux-desktop/archlinux.svg){ align=right }
 
-**Arch Linux** is a lightweight, do-it-yourself (DIY) distribution meaning that you only get what you install. For more information see their [FAQ](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Frequently_asked_questions).
+**Arch Linux** is a lightweight, do-it-yourself (DIY) distribution, meaning that you only get what you install. For more information see their [FAQ](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Frequently_asked_questions).
 
 [:octicons-home-16: Homepage](https://archlinux.org){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
 [:octicons-info-16:](https://wiki.archlinux.org){ .card-link title=Documentation}
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ A large portion of [Arch Linux’s packages](https://reproducible.archlinux.org)
 
 ## Atomic Distributions
 
-**Atomic distributions** (sometimes also referred to as **immutable distributions**) are operating systems which handle package installation and updates by layering changes atop your core system image, rather than by directly modifying the system. This has advantages including increased stability and the ability to easily rollback updates. See [*Traditional vs. Atomic Updates*](os/linux-overview.md#traditional-vs-atomic-updates) for more info.
+**Atomic distributions** (sometimes also referred to as **immutable distributions**) are operating systems which handle package installation and updates by layering changes atop your core system image, rather than by directly modifying the system. Advantages of atomic distros include increased stability and the ability to easily roll back updates. See [*Traditional vs. Atomic Updates*](os/linux-overview.md#traditional-vs-atomic-updates) for more info.
 
 ### Fedora Atomic Desktops
 
@@ -90,15 +90,15 @@ A large portion of [Arch Linux’s packages](https://reproducible.archlinux.org)
 
 </div>
 
-The [Fedora Atomic Desktops](https://fedoramagazine.org/introducing-fedora-atomic-desktops) come in a variety of flavors depending on the desktop environment you prefer, such as **Fedora Silverblue** (which comes with [GNOME](https://gnome.org)), **Fedora Kinoite**, (which comes with [KDE](https://kde.org)), **Fedora Sway Atomic**, or **Fedora Budgie Atomic**. However, we don't recommend the last of these as the Budgie desktop environment [still requires X11](https://buddiesofbudgie.org/blog/wayland).
+[Fedora Atomic Desktops](https://fedoramagazine.org/introducing-fedora-atomic-desktops) come in a variety of flavors depending on the desktop environment you prefer, such as **Fedora Silverblue** (which comes with [GNOME](https://gnome.org)), **Fedora Kinoite** (which comes with [KDE](https://kde.org)), **Fedora Sway Atomic**, or **Fedora Budgie Atomic**. However, we don't recommend the last of these as the Budgie desktop environment [still requires X11](https://buddiesofbudgie.org/blog/wayland).
 
 These operating systems differ from Fedora Workstation as they replace the [DNF](https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/quick-docs/dnf) package manager with a much more advanced alternative called [`rpm-ostree`](https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/fedora/latest/system-administrators-guide/package-management/rpm-ostree). The `rpm-ostree` package manager works by downloading a base image for the system, then overlaying packages over it in a [git](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Git)-like commit tree. When the system is updated, a new base image is downloaded and the overlays will be applied to that new image.
 
-After the update is complete you will reboot the system into the new deployment. `rpm-ostree` keeps two deployments of the system so that you can easily rollback if something breaks in the new deployment. There is also the option to pin more deployments as needed.
+After the update is complete you will reboot the system into the new deployment. `rpm-ostree` keeps two deployments of the system so that you can easily roll back if something breaks in the new deployment. There is also the option to pin more deployments as needed.
 
 [Flatpak](https://flatpak.org) is the primary package installation method on these distributions, as `rpm-ostree` is only meant to overlay packages that cannot stay inside of a container on top of the base image.
 
-As an alternative to Flatpaks, there is the option of [Toolbox](https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/fedora-silverblue/toolbox) to create [Podman](https://podman.io) containers with a shared home directory with the host operating system and mimic a traditional Fedora environment, which is a [useful feature](https://containertoolbx.org) for the discerning developer.
+As an alternative to Flatpaks, there is the option of [Toolbx](https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/fedora-silverblue/toolbox) to create [Podman](https://podman.io) containers which mimic a traditional Fedora environment, a [useful feature](https://containertoolbx.org) for the discerning developer. These containers share a home directory with the host operating system.
 
 ### NixOS
 
@@ -118,9 +118,9 @@ NixOS is an independent distribution based on the Nix package manager with a foc
 
 NixOS’s package manager keeps every version of every package in a different folder in the **Nix store**. Due to this you can have different versions of the same package installed on your system. After the package contents have been written to the folder, the folder is made read-only.
 
-NixOS also provides atomic updates; first it downloads (or builds) the packages and files for the new system generation and then switches to it. There are different ways to switch to a new generation; you can tell NixOS to activate it after reboot or you can switch to it at runtime. You can also *test* the new generation by switching to it at runtime, but not setting it as the current system generation. If something in the update process breaks, you can just reboot and automatically and return to a working version of your system.
+NixOS also provides atomic updates. It first downloads (or builds) the packages and files for the new system generation and then switches to it. There are different ways to switch to a new generation: you can tell NixOS to activate it after reboot or you can switch to it at runtime. You can also *test* the new generation by switching to it at runtime, but not setting it as the current system generation. If something in the update process breaks, you can just reboot and automatically and return to a working version of your system.
 
-Nix the package manager uses a purely functional language - which is also called Nix - to define packages.
+The Nix package manager uses a purely functional language—which is also called Nix—to define packages.
 
 [Nixpkgs](https://github.com/nixos/nixpkgs) (the main source of packages) are contained in a single GitHub repository. You can also define your own packages in the same language and then easily include them in your config.
 
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ Nix is a source-based package manager; if there’s no pre-built available in th
 
 Whonix is meant to run as two virtual machines: a “Workstation” and a Tor “Gateway.” All communications from the Workstation must go through the Tor gateway. This means that even if the Workstation is compromised by malware of some kind, the true IP address remains hidden.
 
-Some of its features include Tor Stream Isolation, [keystroke anonymization](https://whonix.org/wiki/Keystroke_Deanonymization#Kloak), [encrypted swap](https://github.com/Whonix/swap-file-creator), and a hardened memory allocator. Future versions of Whonix will likely include [full system AppArmor policies](https://github.com/Whonix/apparmor-profile-everything) and a [sandbox app launcher](https://whonix.org/wiki/Sandbox-app-launcher) to fully confine all processes on the system.
+Some of its features include Tor Stream Isolation, [keystroke anonymization](https://whonix.org/wiki/Keystroke_Deanonymization#Kloak), [encrypted swap](https://github.com/Whonix/swap-file-creator), and a hardened memory allocator. Future versions of Whonix will likely include [full system AppArmor policies](https://github.com/roddhjav/apparmor.d) and a [sandboxed app launcher](https://whonix.org/wiki/Sandbox-app-launcher) to fully confine all processes on the system.
 
 Whonix is best used [in conjunction with Qubes](https://whonix.org/wiki/Qubes/Why_use_Qubes_over_other_Virtualizers). We have a [recommended guide](os/qubes-overview.md#connecting-to-tor-via-a-vpn) on configuring Whonix in conjunction with a VPN ProxyVM in Qubes to hide your Tor activities from your ISP.
 
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ Tails [doesn't erase](https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails/-/issues/5356) t
 
 </div>
 
-Tails is great for counter forensics due to amnesia (meaning nothing is written to the disk); however, it is not a hardened distribution like Whonix. It lacks many anonymity and security features that Whonix has and gets updated much less often (only once every six weeks). A Tails system that is compromised by malware may potentially bypass the transparent proxy allowing for the user to be deanonymized.
+Tails is great for counter forensics due to amnesia (meaning nothing is written to the disk); however, it is not a hardened distribution like Whonix. It lacks many anonymity and security features that Whonix has and gets updated much less often (only once every six weeks). A Tails system that is compromised by malware may potentially bypass the transparent proxy, allowing for the user to be deanonymized.
 
 Tails includes [uBlock Origin](browser-extensions.md#ublock-origin) in Tor Browser by default, which may potentially make it easier for adversaries to fingerprint Tails users. [Whonix](desktop.md#whonix) virtual machines may be more leak-proof, however they are not amnesic, meaning data may be recovered from your storage device.
 
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ For further information about how Qubes works, read our full [Qubes OS overview]
 
 ### Kicksecure
 
-While we [recommend against](os/linux-overview.md#release-cycle) "perpetually outdated" distributions like Debian for Desktop use in most cases, Kicksecure is a Debian-based operating system which has been hardened to be much more than a typical Linux install.
+While we [recommend against](os/linux-overview.md#release-cycle) "perpetually outdated" distributions like Debian for desktop use in most cases, Kicksecure is a Debian-based operating system which has been hardened to be much more than a typical Linux install.
 
 <div class="admonition recommendation" markdown>
 
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ Choosing a Linux distro that is right for you will come down to a huge variety o
 - Free and open source.
 - Receives regular software and kernel updates.
 - [Avoids X11](os/linux-overview.md#wayland).
-    - The notable exception here is Qubes, but the isolation issues which X11 typically has are avoided by virtualization. This isolation only applies to apps *running in different qubes* (virtual machines), apps running in the *same* qube are not protected from each other.
+    - The notable exception here is Qubes, but the isolation issues which X11 typically has are avoided by virtualization. This isolation only applies to apps *running in different qubes* (virtual machines); apps running in the *same* qube are not protected from each other.
 - Supports full-disk encryption during installation.
 - Doesn't freeze regular releases for more than 1 year.
     - We [recommend against](os/linux-overview.md#release-cycle) "Long Term Support" or "stable" distro releases for desktop usage.