I have installed Zorin 17.2 os on a 2014 laptop last week. I was using Windows 10 before.
My computer is much quicker now and this new OS is great. I am discovering Linux as a beginner.
I have a few basic questions.
First, are all softwares proposed on the Zorin store completely safe? There are different sources (flathub for example...). Are there sources to avoid as a beginner?
2 Am I right to say that an antivirus is not necessary on the OS for a basic user? I
have not been able to find one anyway.
3 When a next major version is released (Zorin OS 18), will I have to manually install it with Etcher by erasing the previous one or will it be automatically done by a Zorin assistant présent in the 17.2 version?
4 I am using a dual boot configuration with the latest version of Ubuntu. I am discovering systems but I really prefer Zorin.
When using the paid version of Zorin, does the Ubuntu theme make it look like the original os?
Thanks for your help. Best wishes for 2025.
Hi and welcome! All good wishes for 2025! To answer your questions, please note that my response to the first question is based on my personal preferences. Wherever possible I prefer using the APT packages labelled as Zorin (APT) in Software. I prefer to disable both flatpak and snap. Also I prefer to disable Wayland and use Zorin on xorg to draw the screen (compositor). When you select your user at login you will see a cog. Click on this before entering your password and choose Zorin on xorg. This will stick even after a reboot.
An anti-virus is not necessary for the OS as such but advisable to configure it to scan your email client for any unwanted content as you would not want to pass on an infected email to a friend who is running Windows. In terms of OS security, you should install chkrootkit and rkhunter to scan for rootkits, which you do via the terminal. If you add any applications to your OS after installing and running the anti-rootkit software you will get some false positives down to the fact they take a snapshot of what is present on the system after their first run.
In terms of updating, Zorin did release an updater package for users of Zorin 16 to move to Zorin 17 with mixed results, some users had no issues whilst others did. Personally I prefer to backup all data in /home folder, including hidden files that start with a period/full stop, e.g. .mozilla:
as these hold your application settings. Then do a fresh install, but I prefer Ventoy over Balena. I don't use Zorin any more, I am currently using Q4OS which has a rolling release. I installed 5.4 and it is now updated itself to 5.7, and it uses Plasma 5.27 DE, not Gnome
The only difference between Core and Pro is that you get some more Zorin Appearance themes, the main additional ones being Windows 11 theme and a MacOS theme. Core already has the default 'Gnome' theme. It won't look like Ubuntu, but the Gnome DE that Ubuntu uses.
Hope this has proved helpful to you. You may want to have a read of the unofficial manual for Zorin 17 that I wrote. Get it from here:
to add to swarfendor437 #1 : they're all safe ( zorin store) , but i also try to avoid snap and flatpak. if i want to install something i search for it and install through terminal (apt) , it'll be a .deb package
#2 : i don't use any antivirus , just use common sense and don't just click everywhere left right and centre , and don't just install from anywhere and anything. do i little research 1st,you'll soon learn what sites to trust to download/install from. ( i'm not saying you shouldn't use some kind of security , just saying i don't )
#3 : when 18 is available for you it'll tell you , you could use the assistant ( i did before from 16 to 17 with no hassles) , but make sure to backup anything you don't want to loose, just in case .
No antivirus scanner here either, stuff that gets downloaded from the net (.exe) are windows anyway. Those virus files don’t work in Linux. I don’t download illegal stuff either.
This might change of course if linux gets more popular and get way more users then it has right now. So for now it’s 99.9% save without a virus scanner, for the feature i don’t know.
To 1: If all is completely safe ... These are strong Words. In Fact, You don't have a 100% Security. Even when the Program itself is safe, it can have a Security Leak. For Flatpak and Snap: These are containerized Formats. That means they run in Containers and have only limited Permissions. that is a Security Thing. But that can cause Issue with Functionalities if they need a Permission which they don't have. So, it is a Pro and a Con. The good Point on these Container-Formats is: They are mostly up-to-date if this is important for You.
To 2: In general, You should be careful what You do with Your Machine. I mean what Softare You use from which Sources. Only because You are on Linux doesn't mean that here are no Threads. Yes, there are less than on Windows. But there are some. You have Options for Security Programs. There would be RKHunter and chkrootkit which are for scanning Rootkit's. but they only run in the Terminal. Then is there ClamAV. That is an AntiVirus Scanner. Normally that runs in the Terminal, too. But with ClamTK, you hav a graphcal Interface which makes it easier to handle. With that You can scan Files or Your System. It is not the best Program - to say that clear. Another Way for Scaning individual Files is VirusTotal. that is an Online Virus Scanner, where You can let scan Files. It doesn't give 100% Security but to see if a thing could be a Thread it is okay.
To 3: You can to a fresh Install or You can use the Zorin OS Upgrader for this. That is up to You. Because the Upgrader ist relatively new, there could be some Issues.
To 4: With Gnome Extensions, You could try to create the Ubuntu Look.
