Is Ubuntu free for personal use?
|
"Ubuntu Pro expands security coverage for critical, high and medium Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) to thousands of applications and toolchains, including Ansible, Apache Tomcat, Apache Zookeeper, Docker, Drupal, Nagios, Node.js, phpMyAdmin, Puppet, PowerDNS, Python 2, Redis, Rust, WordPress, and more." Show So if that suits your needs, it's now free rather than a paid subscription. https://ubuntu.com/blog/ubuntu-pro-beta-release Sep 27, 2022 Noviantika G. 5min Read Windows and macOS are two of the most popular operating systems available today. However, Linux has been gaining more popularity each year not only among developers, but average consumers as well. Linux is a great choice if you are interested in building your virtual private server or trying out a free operating system. It comes in various distributions, such as Fedora, Debian, and CentOS. Also shortened as “distros”, these are operating systems that are based on the Linux kernel and Ubuntu is one of the most popular among them. You can install it on personal computers and servers. Unlike proprietary software, Ubuntu is open-source. That means that users are allowed to modify its code, create and install as many copies as they wish, and distribute the customization anywhere. You don’t need to pay for a license to use Ubuntu.
What Is Ubuntu?Ubuntu is a popular free and open-source Linux-based operating system you can use on a computer or virtual private server. Ubuntu was introduced in 2004 by a British company Canonical. It was based on Debian – a popular distro back then – which was difficult to install. As a result, Ubuntu was proposed as a more user-friendly alternative. As the manager of Ubuntu, Canonical is responsible for releasing a new Ubuntu version every six months. Canonical also provides hosting servers for Ubuntu Community, allowing people worldwide to contribute to testing software bugs, answer questions, and give technical support for free. This article will discuss what Ubuntu is and several reasons why it is so popular. We will also explore the differences between Ubuntu and Linux. Ubuntu vs. Linux: What’s the Difference?Linux is a family of operating systems based on the Linux kernel – the core of an operating system. It enables the communication between hardware and software components. Linux is based on Unix and built around the Linux kernel. It was released in 1991 and is available for web servers, gaming consoles, embedded systems, desktops, and personal computers. It comes in many different versions called distributions. Ubuntu is a Linux distro based on Debian. It is suitable for cloud computing, servers, desktops, and internet of things (IoT) devices. The main difference between Linux and Ubuntu is that the former is an operating system family based on Unix, while Ubuntu is a Linux distribution. Why Is Ubuntu So Popular?According to Ubuntu’s official website, it is the world’s most widely used Linux workstation platform. We will explain six reasons why it is so popular for both computers and private servers. User-FriendlinessUbuntu uses Linux desktop environments for its interface. Since Ubuntu 17.10, GNOME is the default one. GNOME doesn’t clutter the screen with descriptions, instead using icons to facilitate navigation. By default, GNOME features the Activities panel on the left taskbar.  Controls are situated on the top-right corner of the screen. A full applications overview can be viewed by clicking the grid button on the bottom-left corner of the screen. System navigation is made easy because all configuration and application elements are accessible from the main screen. Strong SecurityUbuntu is open-source, undergoing constant checks and reviews by its community members. As a result, any security vulnerabilities can be identified and eliminated quickly. Generally, Linux distributions have fewer security flaws compared to other operating systems. What’s more, Ubuntu employs AppArmor, a kernel enhancement that restricts how programs behave and limits their resources. It works when you have profiles inserted into the kernel. These consist of text files containing access rules for each application. AppArmor can mitigate the extent of security breaches since programs don’t have unlimited permissions. In addition, there are a number of security practices Ubuntu supports, such as automatically installing security updates, using sudo instead of root Linux user, implementing complex passwords, setting up a VPN server, configuring firewall using ufw, and enabling iptables. More Software OptionsMost of the popular macOS and Windows applications such as Slack, Spotify, and Firefox are also available for Linux users and can be installed via the Ubuntu Software Center. Even if you can’t find the application you want, chances are there is a quality alternative available. For example, Libre Office works just as well as Microsoft Office. Another option you can use aside from the Ubuntu Software Center is Snapcraft. It is an application created by Canonical that contains open-source and proprietary software packages available for Linux-based operating systems. One major advantage of Snapcraft is that it uses the snapd daemon that automatically checks and updates applications. Enhanced PrivacyJust like any other operating system, Ubuntu has its data privacy policy. There are four fundamental principles that Ubuntu follows in terms of personal information processing:
Ubuntu also collects some hardware information as well as location and usage data. However, you can always stop it from doing so. For example, location services can be disabled via the Privacy settings, as shown below. Lightweight PerformanceUbuntu is not resource-intensive – it operates smoothly on low-end devices. The default interface can run on less than 1 GB of RAM. What’s more, a lot of Ubuntu desktop environments are even more lightweight. For example, Lubuntu can run on systems with as little as 512 MB of RAM. In comparison, both Windows and macOS require considerably more resources – both macOS Big Sur and Windows 11 need a minimum of 4 GB of RAM to run. This is because these operating systems have resource-heavy user interfaces (UIs) with advanced features incorporated in them. Free of ChargeUbuntu is a free open-source operating system that you can download from its official website. You can also modify its source code as you see fit – as of now, there are numerous projects based on Ubuntu. In comparison, macOS and Windows are closed-source operating systems. To use Windows, you need to buy a computer that comes with it or purchase a license which starts at $139/license. Meanwhile, macOS is not available for purchase – it comes pre-installed with Mac devices. ConclusionWhile there are various Linux distributions available online, the most popular among them is Ubuntu. It is a free and open-source operating system. Here are six reasons why Ubuntu is so popular:
We hope this article has helped you find out more about Ubuntu. If you have any ideas or questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below. Noviantika is a Digital Content Writer at Hostinger. Passionate in web hosting, WordPress, and SEO, she's driven to share her knowledge with the world through her writing. During her free time, Noviantika likes to hop on a plane and discover places. Can I use Ubuntu for personal use?It is available free of cost for both personal and professional use. The process of setting up in Ubuntu, especially for the purpose of testing is easy. Ubuntu provides an easy user interface. Most of the time, the users can avoid the hassle of installation of drivers with this Operating System.
Is Ubuntu free to install?The Ubuntu desktop is easy to use, easy to install and includes everything you need to run your organisation, school, home or enterprise. It's also open source, secure, accessible and free to download.
Is Ubuntu free and open source?In the spirit of open source, Ubuntu is absolutely free to download, use, share and improve however and whenever you like.
|
