Planning to get ubuntu, Would like information

[Brv]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forums.
I'm Italian and live in England for 3 years now. I'm use Kubuntu 8.04 for 2 half years now, I love Ubuntu so much.

I have a old computer Windows NT I found my garage from my uncle in Italy. Running very slowly. No firewall, anti-virus, (found 6382 Virus - HDD 40GB) then My mate give me OS Kubuntu CD then installed my old computer everything installed well, run little smooth and fast. I don't know if windows NT was removed (I really want windows remove!). I want to install new Ubuntu 9.10 on my old computer. (save old computer)
I want to install Ubuntu on it. I'd like to know with the following with four questions. I want information from people who have used it. Please don't tell me to do to install ubuntu-desktop maybe I will get new HDD 250GB and upgrade 2gb ram and drivers. And I'm not highly technical.

1. How do I can Uninstall Kubuntu OS and wipe HDD? Or just install over the top?
2. Upgrade 2gb ram memory and drivers video card. Should before or after install ubuntu OS? (which is easy and best) any free drivers? Can I download?
3. Security/Firewall? I have read much all ubuntuforums said "Ubuntu is pretty secure by default" but I'm not so sure, I believe It's fairly secure by default but I have been 2 years with still default.. Without GUI Firewall.. It is Secure? Because I have lot very importation project engineer motorcycles/designs, project everything and naked girlfriends, also lot picture and Data in my files. (Front Desktop Folder) make sure I don't hijacked. Then I use Wot of Trust, Adblock Plus only. Web Surfing everything, Porn, Buy Online, Newgrounds, Forums, reddit, Facebook, download, amsn, 4chan, Email Web-base and use Thunderbird Email client...ect
4. Post any comments and answers if you want.

PS: I know it was stupid and noob but I need some help, Sorry about my English, Hope you understand

Thanks in advance, guys.

~Brv

[Ozymandias_117]

1. How do I can Uninstall Kubuntu OS and wipe HDD? Or just install over the top?
2. Upgrade 2gb ram memory and drivers video card. Should before or after install ubuntu OS? (which is easy and best) any free drivers? Can I download?
3. Security/Firewall? I have read much all ubuntuforums said "Ubuntu is pretty secure by default" but I'm not so sure, I believe It's fairly secure by default but I have been 2 years with still default.. Without GUI Firewall.. It is Secure? Because I have lot very importation project engineer motorcycles/designs, project everything and naked girlfriends, also lot picture and Data in my files. (Front Desktop Folder) make sure I don't hijacked. Then I use Wot of Trust, Adblock Plus only. Web Surfing everything, Porn, Buy Online, Newgrounds, Forums, reddit, Facebook, download, amsn, 4chan, Email Web-base and use Thunderbird Email client...ect
4. Post any comments and answers if you want.

1. During an install it asks do you want to wipe the disk and install ubuntu. If you're just asking how to wipe a drive, you can use gparted from a liveCD.

2. Generally it's a better idea to do hardware upgrades before installing your operating system. You shouldn't have any problems doing it the other way around... but if you have to install anyway... might be better to wait. If you're going to use the company's proprietary drivers, you can go to their site and make sure the card you want has drivers for Linux before you install.

3. It's much more secure than windows, but nothing is 100% secure. You can install a program called "firestarter" from the repositories which is a GUI for configuring your firewall, this will make it more secure if you're paranoid. (If you just install it and run it, it will automatically block all incoming connections not requested by the host, aka your computer)

4. Hopefully that answers all your questions, if something isn't clear post back and I'll try to reply tomorrow.

[TheXenophobeist]

"2. Upgrade 2gb ram memory and drivers video card. Should before or after install ubuntu OS? (which is easy and best) any free drivers? Can I download?"

A RAM Upgrade/swap can be performed at any time that your computer's power-cord is unplugged, as it does not require any software re-tooling. Just like switching out a PS2 mouse &/or Keyboard,.. or VGA monitor.

[Ozymandias_117]

A RAM Upgrade/swap can be performed at any time that your computer's power-cord is unplugged, as it does not require any software re-tooling. Just like switching out a PS2 mouse &/or Keyboard,.. or VGA monitor.

I agree about RAM, but video cards can, on occasion, decide to screw everything up.

[darolu]

1. How do I can Uninstall Kubuntu OS and wipe HDD? Or just install over the top?

Ciao, si dovrebbe seguire questa guida di installazione:

http://wiki.ubuntu-it.org/Installazione/Grafica

In "Preparazione spazio su disco" utilizzare l'opzione "Guidate - usa l'intero disco".

In bocca al lupo!

[3rdalbum]

1. You can install Ubuntu straight over-the-top of Kubuntu. If you use the "manual partitioning method" and don't click the "Format" checkbox for the partition, your /home will even be preserved for you.

2. Either, but it will be quicker for you if you install the graphics card first because then you'll only install a driver once. The RAM can be done at any stage.

3. I don't think you know what a firewall does. A firewall stops incoming communication requests from reaching your computer. On Windows, you need a firewall because there are programs that will listen to incoming requests and respond to them. On Ubuntu, by default, no programs will listen to any incoming requests. To outside appearances, your computer will behave exactly the same as a firewalled computer.

Hey, if you want to install gufw and turn it on, then that's fine by me. But it won't make you any safer. If you're already wearing an invisibility cloak you don't need a suit of armour - do you get what I mean?

4. Enjoy Ubuntu. Your questions weren't stupid at all, and your English is nothing to apologise for.

[Brv]

2. Generally it's a better idea to do hardware upgrades before installing your operating system. You shouldn't have any problems doing it the other way around... but if you have to install anyway... might be better to wait. If you're going to use the company's proprietary drivers, you can go to their site and make sure the card you want has drivers for Linux before you install.
3. It's much more secure than windows, but nothing is 100% secure. You can install a program called "firestarter" from the repositories which is a GUI for configuring your firewall, this will make it more secure if you're paranoid. (If you just install it and run it, it will automatically block all incoming connections not requested by the host, aka your computer)

Thank you so much for help about Hardware upgrades.

Ciao, si dovrebbe seguire questa guida di installazione:
http://wiki.ubuntu-it.org/Installazione/Grafica
In "Preparazione spazio su disco" utilizzare l'opzione "Guidate - usa l'intero disco".
In bocca al lupo!

Griazie! Darolu

3. I don't think you know what a firewall does. A firewall stops incoming communication requests from reaching your computer. On Windows, you need a firewall because there are programs that will listen to incoming requests and respond to them. On Ubuntu, by default, no programs will listen to any incoming requests. To outside appearances, your computer will behave exactly the same as a firewalled computer.
Hey, if you want to install gufw and turn it on, then that's fine by me. But it won't make you any safer. If you're already wearing an invisibility cloak you don't need a suit of armour - do you get what I mean?
4. Enjoy Ubuntu. Your questions weren't stupid at all, and your English is nothing to apologise for.

I understand what you mean. thank you so much for about firewall

Thank

~Brv

[The Cog]

3. I don't think you know what a firewall does. A firewall stops incoming communication requests from reaching your computer. On Windows, you need a firewall because there are programs that will listen to incoming requests and respond to them. On Ubuntu, by default, no programs will listen to any incoming requests. To outside appearances, your computer will behave exactly the same as a firewalled computer.

I agree with this sentiment. Unless you install a server psrgram such as a web server, VNC remote desktop server etc., there is little point in installing a firewall. Even then, unless you have specific restrictions in mind, such as only allowing connections from your local network only, a firewall is pointless. There is no point in installing a public webserver, then installing a firewall that blocks anyone from connecting to it, then reconfiguring the firewall to let the connections through again.

However, it is generally possible to detect the difference between an Ubuntu device with and without a firewall. One with a firewall will generally not reply to connection requests, but without a firewall the machine will respond with a Connection Refused message. If you're really REALLY paranoid, you might prefer to use a firewall to prevent even the connection refused messages getting back to the caller.

[Brv]

I agree with this sentiment. Unless you install a server psrgram such as a web server, VNC remote desktop server etc., there is little point in installing a firewall. Even then, unless you have specific restrictions in mind, such as only allowing connections from your local network only, a firewall is pointless. There is no point in installing a public webserver, then installing a firewall that blocks anyone from connecting to it, then reconfiguring the firewall to let the connections through again.

However, it is generally possible to detect the difference between an Ubuntu device with and without a firewall. One with a firewall will generally not reply to connection requests, but without a firewall the machine will respond with a Connection Refused message. If you're really REALLY paranoid, you might prefer to use a firewall to prevent even the connection refused messages getting back to the caller.

Never use Server, Now I'm REALLY paranoid then I will install on it later. I have been use Kubuntu long time use default with firewall.

:~$sudo iptables -L
Chain INPUT (policy ACCEPT)
target prot opt source destination

Chain FORWARD (policy ACCEPT)
target prot opt source destination

Chain OUTPUT (policy ACCEPT)
target prot opt source destination

:~$Sudo ufw status
Firewall not loaded

Thank

~Brv

[quadproc]

Here is something to think about regarding the use of a separate hardware firewall: if you use one then you will not forget to enable it and you will not run the risk of a software bug making the firewall penetrable by the bad guys.

I run a hardware firewall for the reasons listed above, but also because mine is, in addition, a network switch for my private LAN.

Regards,

quadproc