Not because of blind prejudice, but

    • Updates taking to long

    • Systems broken by updates

    • Recall taking snaps of everything you do including passwords, banking and emails

    • CoPilot being forced on users, using your data to teach LLMs on everything you do

    • Microsoft does not care about the user any more. Only corporate users can bypass all this.

Now the biggest issue for Windows users is the Operating System itself.

Even as a past Windows c#.Net developer I am now forced to abandon the Microsoft platforms.

Not because of blind prejudice, but

    • Updates taking to long

    • Systems broken by updates

    • Recall taking snaps of everything you do including passwords, banking and emails

    • CoPilot being forced on users, using your data to teach LLMs on everything you do

    • Microsoft does not care about the user any more. Only corporate users can bypass all this.

So what is the answer?

I have researched the best options for myself as a power user, 

Why am I a power user?

•  I use computers a lot

•  I run a lot of software and browse a lot for leisure and hobbies

•  I do computer graphics, photography, videography and production

•  I have had a Facebook advertising account hacked and had to recoup money

•  I do everything in life digitally, banking, bills, work, leisure. I rarely carry cash

Operating System choice for PC Laptops

Linux (any of the major distros)

•   Security is built in and easy to configure

•   Support is free via distro websites and communities

•   Choice of distros, kernels and desktops

•   Immense choice of free and well supported software that is free and open source

I recommend, in order of ease and ability of the user to switch from Windows

•  Mint Linux 22.3

•  Zorin OS 18

•  Pop! OS 24.04

•  Ubuntu 26.04 LTS ^^

•  UbuntuStudio 26.04 LTS ^^ **

•  Kubuntu – I love the Plasma desktop, it’s Ubuntu in every other respect. (personal choice)

• MAC OS - true it’s not Linux but based on BSD and as good in every respect other than open sourced and free software and support

** much pre-installed software and tweaks for musicians, photography, graphic design, and video production creators

^^ I has issues with Nvidia GTX1030 (not with my GTX1650), by default it installs the latest drivers and crashes Kwin on startup and looping until it kills it on Ubuntu, Ubuntu Studio and Kubuntu

With Linux distros you hardly ever need to download software or build from source, the repositories (repos) are highly secure, regularly updated, trustworthy, contain security updates and the process only requires a couple of clicks. They are searchable by program name and category, so if you want to replace MS Office 365, type Office, world processor, spreadsheet etc.

Be sure if you choose to download software that it is coming from a reputable source. Check feedback and history or reviews first.

Sourceforge.net

GitHub.com

Set your OS to download security updates daily. Software updates weekly and set up the backup or recovery process if supplied.

Browsers

These are all cross platform, but the whole point is to secure Linux, I won’t be using the built in password managers.

In order of security, see reviews for full details

Chromium

Chrome but de-googled and convenient

Mozilla Firefox

Convenient but not that secure out of the box, can be tweaked

Mullvad Browser (close second)

comes with their VPN (more about later), it’s open source and hides browser fingerprinting which reduces tracking https://mullvad.net/en/browser

LibreWolf ** FAV **

independent version of Mozilla Firefox, with the primary goals of privacy, security and user freedom.

Might hamper some browsing due to 

1. images not loading (Canvas disabled) 

2. Some content not loading (WebGL disabled)

3. Popups blocked by default

4. Adverts blocked by default

But totally worth it for peace of mind, a great daily browser!

https://librewolf.net/

Now when this happens you can click the left hand side of the address bar and enable Web Canvas or Web GL (graphics) on a per-site basis. Of course you can override for all sites but that defeats the point!

VPN - Virtual Private Networking

Features

• appear as if in a different country

• add secure DNS

• limit fingerprinting

• end to end encryption

• secure peer to peer downloading (not all do this)

• Max 5 devices

Best free VPN and the only one that doesn’t sell your browning data - Proton VPN

Best value - Mullvad VPN ** FAV **

Very highly featured, fast secure, easily configured and only 5 Euros a month, pay for 1 month, 1 year or a decade it’s the same price. Lots of servers, kill switch,  multi-hop, DNS content blockers for Ads, Trackers, Adult content, Malware, Gambling, Social media, IPV6 tunneling, local network sharing control, and more..
https://mullvad.net/en/pricing

Many other paid VPNs deliver excellent service and more devices

Password Manager

Keepass XC

If you want ONLY to store password offline and not use them across multiple devices easily

https://keepassxc.org/

Keeper ** FAV **

Can be used as

1. a website

2. multi platform OS app download

3. browser extension (Firefox or Chromium based browsers),  Automatically locks out browser password manager and form filling, two-factor authentication. AI checks if you suddenly appear in a new location or browser and gets you to verify with two-factor. Highly customisable!

https://www.keepersecurity.com/

Secure Email 

Proton Mail

• 1GB free, other plans available

• App or browser

• Based in Switzerland

• End to end encryption

• Open source

• Other products, password manager, office, drive, VP N etc 

https://proton.me/

TutaMail ** FAV **

• End to end encryption

• Private

• Green

• Free

• Other products - Drive, Calendar, 

• Business options

• No alt email needed so anonymous

https://tuta.com/secure-email

Final thoughts

My advice to you as to what to take away from this more than anything-

1. Who is going to access my data?

2. How much telemetry 

3. Are all of my accounts secured from intruders? How?

   • Two factor authentication (SMS message, Authenticator, confirm on other device)

   • Passkeys

4. How can I recover a password if it gets hacked

5. How easily can I change a password if I feel it may have been compromised?

6. Do I know how to contact my bank, Paypal, Loans, credit card company etc. if I am compromised? (I sorted a FB fraud in less than an hour and had the money back same day)

7. Use credit cards for unfamiliar suppliers

8. Screenshot conversations, transactions, can you remember where you bought that special offer?

9. Read this! https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk/reporting-fraud/

10.  If it is an unbelievable offer or has a tight time before it epxires it’s probably fraudulent!

11. Don’t buy high value items on FB Market Place, Gumtree.com or classified ads unless in person, send a small deposit. If buying second hand cars Google the adverts to see if the images are stolen! - See Mark MGann64 https://youtu.be/Oi4qwAoBY64?si=NpMES7CuFp5LYCE2