What is Linux?
Linux, often described as a technical user’s operating system, is quite popular in many circles of computer processing because of its versatility and easy-to-use framework.
Many associate Linux as the operating system of choice among corporate IT professionals and not suited to regular Internet users, though the system now gains traction among regular consumers with each passing day, even me also using the Kali Linux which is a latest release and called as "Rebirth of Backtrack". Now you may ask what is BackTrack, So, the BackTrack is famous for Hacking. Most of the Good Hackers use only Linux version.Comparing DOS & Windows to Linux
Despite what some folks will tell you, there is a lot of superficial similarity between DOS and Linux, and also between MS Windows and the X Window System. We can leverage the knowledge we already have to get up and running faster in Linux.
What’s Same?
Hierarchical Directory Structure: DOS, Windows, and Linux all store information in files which are organized into directories (also called folders). Directories may contain files and other directories. Although, the commands differ, files and directories can be created, deleted, renamed, copied, moved and listed from the command prompt.
Start a program by typing its name at the command prompt.
Windows can be minimized, maximized, closed using buttons or menus.
What’s The Difference?
Here are some major points you need to know:
- Linux is Case Sensitive!: To Linux, a capital letter is NOT the same as a lower case letter. The file Junk.txt is NOT the same file as junk.txt. Watch this carefully! It will cause you monstrous headaches!
- Linux is quiet: If a command succeeds, it will just drop you back at the command prompt without a status message. This can be confusing to new users.
- Linux does not confirm anything: In DOS or Windows, if you try to delete a file or folder it will ask for confirmation (“Are you sure you want to do that?”). Linux won’t ask, it’ll just do it. This makes it very easy to accidentally destroy a file, or the entire file system. Be SURE of what you type!
- Slashes: Linux uses a forward slash (/) wherever DOS would use a backslash (\). Linux uses a dash (-) to indicate command switches where DOS would use a slash (/).
- Search Path: DOS always checks the current directory first, then looks at the PATH environment variable. Linux never looks in the current directory but searches only the directories listed in PATH. To run a program in the current directory you have to type ./ before it.
The History of Linux
In the 1960s, computers were huge; they filled whole rooms. Housing the equipment needed to run a computer network and ensuring each of those pieces remained functional created many organizational issues. Compounding that problem, each computer ran on a different operating system. Software was customized for each product so as to serve a purpose specific to the company’s needs. This meant that work for one system didn’t mean developers could work on another operating system.
Considering the expense of computers and the amount of effort involved in training users how to understand the functioning of the computer and its operating systems, the overall cost ended up being quite high. In 1969, a group of developers at Bell Labs began work on a single solution operating system which could address the compatibility issues faced by companies. From their efforts, they produced UNIX, a program that was simple, ran on the C programming language and could recycle code.
As technology advanced and computers became smaller, UNIX became the
operating system of choice among mainframes at large companies and
government entities. Due to the slow nature of the system, it never
quite gained traction among home PC users.
In the 1990s, Linus Torvalds, a computer science student at the University of Helsinki, decided to create a free academic version of UNIX, from which Linux was born. Two years after he first began work on the project, more than 12,000 Linux users could be found, all of whom actively contributed to the creation of the operating system. In the end, they created a full UNIX clone fit for use on personal workstations and even servers.
Linux today
Linux is used extensively throughout the desktop market, despite fierce competition from Microsoft. While the hardest hurdle to overcome has been office applications, the operating system offers MS-compatible software from word processors to spreadsheets.
The more popular use of Linux continues to be on the server side to the stable and reliable experience it gives to companies and organizations. Entities like Amazon and the U.S. Post Office use the operating system for database and trading service management.
The best thing to happen to the Linux community is Android. The operating system used among many smartphones, while not pure Linux, still operates on a standard Linux kernel. This makes the heart of every Android device Linux-based.
Linux today
Linux is used extensively throughout the desktop market, despite fierce competition from Microsoft. While the hardest hurdle to overcome has been office applications, the operating system offers MS-compatible software from word processors to spreadsheets.
The more popular use of Linux continues to be on the server side to the stable and reliable experience it gives to companies and organizations. Entities like Amazon and the U.S. Post Office use the operating system for database and trading service management.
The best thing to happen to the Linux community is Android. The operating system used among many smartphones, while not pure Linux, still operates on a standard Linux kernel. This makes the heart of every Android device Linux-based.
Installing Linux on a desktop
Unlike other operating systems like Microsoft Windows, Linux is available free of charge due to its open source nature. The software maintains its popularity among developers because it can be changed to suit the needs of its users, whereas altering the source code of Microsoft Windows would void any software warranty.
Linux can be downloaded through their main website or through the websites of any Linux distribution location. To install the operating system, users have to follow the same process as with installing Windows on a desktop. The operating system has to first be loaded on to a CD or jump drive, which is then accessed during a computer boot and the installation process begins. Overall, the installation matches the rest of the user experience in ease of use, and allows for many users with multiple hard drives to run instances of both Linux and Windows on the same desktop.
Linux can be downloaded through their main website or through the websites of any Linux distribution location. To install the operating system, users have to follow the same process as with installing Windows on a desktop. The operating system has to first be loaded on to a CD or jump drive, which is then accessed during a computer boot and the installation process begins. Overall, the installation matches the rest of the user experience in ease of use, and allows for many users with multiple hard drives to run instances of both Linux and Windows on the same desktop.
Common Linux commands
Linux utilizes many commands that serve a wide range of operation functions. While you may have the option of picking between the thousands of commands presently available, several common commands do exist as shown below.
The “tar” command serves a very important purpose as the operating system’s primary archiving utility. Common tar commands include:
To create a new tar archive: $ tar cvf archive_name.tar dirname/
To extract from an existing tar archive: $ tar xvf archive_name.tar
To view an existing tar archive: $ tar tvf archive_name.tar
The “grep” command allows for users to search plan-text data for specific expression, or match. Common grep commands include:
To search for a given text string in a file: $ grep -i "the" demo_file
To print the matched line of text: $ grep -A 3 -i "example" demo_text
To search for a given text string in all files: fortwa$ grep -r "ramesh" *
Linux utilizes many commands that serve a wide range of operation functions. While you may have the option of picking between the thousands of commands presently available, several common commands do exist as shown below.
The “tar” command serves a very important purpose as the operating system’s primary archiving utility. Common tar commands include:
To create a new tar archive: $ tar cvf archive_name.tar dirname/
To extract from an existing tar archive: $ tar xvf archive_name.tar
To view an existing tar archive: $ tar tvf archive_name.tar
The “grep” command allows for users to search plan-text data for specific expression, or match. Common grep commands include:
To search for a given text string in a file: $ grep -i "the" demo_file
To print the matched line of text: $ grep -A 3 -i "example" demo_text
To search for a given text string in all files: fortwa$ grep -r "ramesh" *
Linux Vulnerabilities:
The main vulnerability of Linux OS is that anyone can access the code of the operating system. And, if you are not savvy enough with the programming code like hackers are. You only need to search for the correct free Linux hacking tool and you will be able to get inside in no time.
The other problem is that many of the drivers made for determined hardware. Let’s say, a printer is not created by people who have security in mind. This is especially important for a company who do not wish to find its intellectual property is stolen each time they send something to the printing room.
So, after all of these possible loopholes inside Linux OS, you should consider using a version that has been designed with security in mind. Check www.engardelinux.com and find more about this variation of Linux OS.
The other problem is that many of the drivers made for determined hardware. Let’s say, a printer is not created by people who have security in mind. This is especially important for a company who do not wish to find its intellectual property is stolen each time they send something to the printing room.
So, after all of these possible loopholes inside Linux OS, you should consider using a version that has been designed with security in mind. Check www.engardelinux.com and find more about this variation of Linux OS.
Kernel Hacking
The kernel is the software inside a computer that is in charge of maintaining an adequate communication between the hardware and the rest of the software. One of the strong points among the Linux community is that the kernel of a Linux OS can be altered. And for what reason? The two main motives are fixing any problem that may arise and increase the efficiency of a driver responsible for managing a determined piece of hardware
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The kernel is the software inside a computer that is in charge of maintaining an adequate communication between the hardware and the rest of the software. One of the strong points among the Linux community is that the kernel of a Linux OS can be altered. And for what reason? The two main motives are fixing any problem that may arise and increase the efficiency of a driver responsible for managing a determined piece of hardware
If You Like this post just share with your friends.
