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Posted on 02/04/2026 5:49:52 AM PST by dennisw
STOP Everything! If You Use LINUX, You Need to Watch This NOW!
The Hardware Report
Feb 3, 2026 #Linux #OpenSource #CyberSecurity
Is your Linux system actually secure?
In today’s video, we’re breaking down a critical update every Linux user needs to see. Whether you’re on Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, or Mint, the "set it and forget it" mentality could be putting your data at risk.
#Linux #OpenSource #CyberSecurity #LinuxTips #TechNews #Ubuntu #ArchLinux #Privacy #LinuxTutorial #SysAdmin
From hidden security vulnerabilities to essential kernel tweaks that boost performance, we cover the "must-do" steps to keep your distro running fast and safe. Don't wait until something breaks—fix it now!
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
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TRANSCRIPT >>>
If you’re still running Windows 10 right now, your
computer stopped receiving security updates three
months ago, and you’re one malware attack away
from losing everything. But here’s what’s even
crazier. Over 1 billion people are in the exact same
situation as you, and most of them don’t even
know it yet.
October 14th, 2025 was the day Microsoft pulled
the plug on Windows 10. No more security patches,
no more protection, nothing. And the timing
couldn’t be worse because right now we’re living
through the most catastrophic hardware shortage
in 30 years.
RAM prices have exploded. DDR5 kits that cost
$90 in May are now around $400. Graphics cards
are being scalped for double their retail price.
And even if you had the money to upgrade, good
luck finding parts in stock. NAND flash makers
sold out their entire 2026 production capacity
months ago.
So you’ve got two choices. Pay Microsoft $30 per
year just to keep your obsolete OS barely secure,
or spend $2,000 to $3,000 on a new computer that
can run Windows 11. Except there’s a third option
almost nobody’s talking about — and it could save
you thousands while making your current machine
run faster than it ever did on Windows.
2026 is the first year in history where switching
to Linux isn’t just possible — it’s actually the
smartest financial move you can make.
Here’s the reality check. Microsoft ended Windows
10 support on October 14th, 2025. That date has
passed, which means your computer is now running
an OS that will never receive another security
update. Every vulnerability discovered from this
point forward stays on your machine forever.
Before you say you’ll just upgrade to Windows 11,
here are three brutal facts Microsoft leaves out.
Fact one: your computer probably can’t run
Windows 11. Microsoft locked it behind strict
requirements that exclude hundreds of millions
of perfectly functional machines. You need an
Intel 8th-gen CPU or newer. Anything from 2016
or earlier doesn’t qualify. That high-end i7 you
bought years ago? Now “unsupported.”
AMD users need second-gen Ryzen or newer. First
gen Ryzen — once top tier — is out. And then
there’s TPM 2.0, a security chip many pre-2016
computers don’t have. Even when supported, it’s
often disabled in BIOS, and most people have no
idea how to check.
As of late 2025, Windows 10 still runs on roughly
42% of Windows PCs worldwide. Nearly half. Not
because people are lazy — their machines simply
can’t run Windows 11 without new hardware.
Fact two: even if you qualify, Microsoft’s
Extended Security Updates cost $30 to keep
Windows 10 secure for one more year — only until
October 2026. You’re paying a subscription fee
just to use an OS you already own.
For businesses it’s worse: $61 per device year
one, $122 year two, $244 year three. They’re
pricing people toward the only solution they
want — buying new hardware with Windows 11.
Fact three: the global hardware market is chaos.
DDR5 32GB kits jumped from $90 to $400 in months.
DDR4 tripled. SSD NAND prices more than doubled.
Manufacturers report production sold out through
2026, with new capacity not ready until 2027+.
GPUs are in nightmare territory. High-end cards
launch at $1,999 and resell for $3,000–$5,000.
Some listings go far higher. Even system builders
are being scalped and raising prices.
So Microsoft’s ask is simple: pay yearly fees or
buy a new $1,500–$3,500 computer during the worst
shortage in decades.
This is where Linux changes the game.
Reason one: Linux runs extremely well on old
hardware. Machines from 2010 can run modern
Linux smoothly. Your “obsolete” Windows 10 PC
can feel faster than it ever did on Windows.
Reason two: the software gap has mostly closed.
Office work, web apps, creative tools, and many
professional workflows now have Linux options
or solid alternatives. For most people, daily
needs are fully covered.
Gaming? Steam’s Proton made Linux a legitimate
gaming platform. A large portion of top Steam
titles run on Linux, and many new releases work
well out of the box.
Reason three: modern Linux distros are user-
friendly. Linux Mint, Ubuntu, and Pop!_OS feel
familiar to Windows users. App stores, point-
and-click installs, no terminal required.
Reason four: Linux is free. No license fees, no
subscriptions, no ESU payments, no forced
hardware upgrades.
Reason five: during a hardware crisis, using
your current computer for free is the only
financially sane option.
Reason six: Windows keeps adding ads, forced
accounts, telemetry, and intrusive features.
Linux gives control back to you.
Major tech publications are now openly saying
Linux is good — genuinely usable for regular
people.
What should you do? Start with dual-booting.
Install Linux alongside Windows and try it for a
week. Browse, email, watch videos, edit docs.
You may be surprised how easy it feels.
The bottom line: Windows 10 is unsupported,
hardware is overpriced, and Linux offers a free,
capable alternative that runs well on what you
already own.
This isn’t “maybe someday.” This is right now.
Try Linux — your wallet might seriously thank you.
ctl-alt-del
Heh!
If you’re going to post something with an alarmist title…
…the reason for the alarm has to be made evident in the posted excerpt.
Between the excerpt and your transcript post, I don’t see the reason why Linux operators need to be concerned. Maybe there’s a good reason why, but none is stated.
…and now that I made the mistake of watching (15 seconds) of the video, I can tell that this is 100% AI SLOP.
Come on, dennisw, we can’t be posting this kind of junk, we have to be more discerning. And I say this as someone who’s been running Linux at home for 2+ decades.
Linux is still stuck in 1969. Basic capabilities are still relegated to the command line.
It’s 2026 and about time Linux had a professional software company add the basic features Windows already has had for decades.
As someone else said 20 years ago, and it is still true today, a free copy of Linux is only financially advantageous if you do not value your time.
Linux is a HUGE time sink. What I can do in seconds in a Windows environment takes hours in Linux, and if it fails, just pave the box and start over. Why? Because to do anything requires hours of typing to load updates, to install third-party applications because Linux is missing many, many features, and if for any reason any of it is incompatible then the operating system stays in a f****ed up and unrepairable state.
Hardware support is also severely lacking because no hardware vendor wants to support not less than a dozen Linux versions with differing capabilities. Same with software vendors.
There simply is no financial value for a professional software company to create a better Linux because it is the gibsmedat “FREEBIES” crowd. Everyone wants “Open Source” freebies.
I just tried Linux for hosting a large commercial website. It was a severe waste of time. Fresh installs, explicit command line instructions. Failed. Experts weighed in. “Start over, no idea why it failed”, was their advice.
Linux is more akin to alchemy than computer science.
“spend $2,000 to $3,000 on a new computer that
can run Windows 11”
Really? Who makes up this nonsense? A laptop runs $400 up.
Yep, only companies that use Linux effectively dedicate to their own version, NAS boxes for example such as QNAP and Synology.
Even then it is still a royal PITA!
What a load of Crap
Yes, Linux is a load of crap.
My Windows 10 is still getting updates. Microsoft has extended update support for one year, AT NO COST.
Is this an advertisement thread?
“AMD users need second-gen Ryzen or newer. First
gen Ryzen — once top tier — is out. And then
there’s TPM 2.0, a security chip many pre-2016
computers don’t have. Even when supported, it’s
often disabled in BIOS, and most people have no
idea how to check.”
Butt... They can install and operate Linux? Right!
Fact one: your computer probably can’t run
Windows 11. Microsoft locked it behind strict
requirements that exclude hundreds of millions
of perfectly functional machines.
This is a good thing. They kept building their OS to the lowest common denominator for so long. I have windows 11 and 10 computers that I use. You do not have to spend anywhere near 2-3k for a computer to run win 11. That is higher end gaming computers.
It’s clear you don’t use or never used Linux
clickbait title.
What should you do? Start with dual-booting.
Install Linux alongside Windows and try it for a
week. Browse, email, watch videos, edit docs.
You may be surprised how easy it feels.
________________
NO!!!! This way is confusing to newbies and steals NVME space. Best way to begin is install Mint Linux on a 32gb flash drive. You then boot from this flash drive when you want to do a Mint session. This flash drive will remember all you do with Mint, such as add Brave browser, such as passwords and bookmarks. I like Mint because it has a lo-blue light app for nighttime use. Any windows 10 n 11 browser can be installed into your new Mint on flash drive.
Better n more responsive is to install Mint on an external NVMe drive via a USB enclosure. Get a used 128GB NVMe on eBay for 14$. Boot to this same as you would Mint on flash drive.
What are you even talking about? Most of the internet runs on Linux servers.
AI-generated crap.
There are MORE THAN 400 different and individually maintained flavors of Linux. To imply that ALL OF THEM have stopped receiving security updates, even to imply that Linux without updates is somehow more vulnerable that Windows, IS UTTER NONSENSE.
It’s AI-generated disinformation, and you fell for it.
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