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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Do you need to have a firewall on a linux desktop? (discuss.tchncs.de)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Hi. I wanted to know if it's needed to install a firewall on a linux desktop/laptop. Why yes or why no?

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yes, except that whether you do is not at all obvious.

Do you use KDE Connect? If yes, you run a network service. Syncthing, a bittorrent client? Those too, and many others. I know this is a Linux community, but as a comparison windows has a bunch of network services running by default.
By saying "network services", I think menu of us would just think about a web server or a file server, conclude that they don't run any of those, and don't bother with it.

When in doubt, sudo netstat -lutpn, and look for the listening ports to see what software listens for informing requests.