Time to switch to Linux

The calendar has marked 14. October 2025 as the day Microsoft pulls the plug on free updates for Windows 10. Suddenly the only official choices left are Windows 11 or Apple’s polished fruit. Both arrive wrapped in layers of telemetry, forced cloud sync and AI assistants that whisper “I’ve got you covered” while quietly sending every keystroke to a data farm. If you enjoy being watched while you type, congratulations – you’ve found your dream OS.

Image created by me.

Enter Linux. Not a mysterious alien, just a collection of free software that respects the fact you own your machine. Install it once, forget about it, and watch it run without a single pop‑up asking for permission to read your contacts. The irony is delicious: the world spends billions convincing you that a closed box is safer than an open one, then charges you for the privilege of finding out you’ve been compromised.

Why Windows 11 feels like a privacy nightmare is obvious. Every login is tied to a Microsoft account, every document is nudged toward OneDrive, and the new Copilot sits in the corner like an eager intern, ready to suggest actions based on everything it knows about you. The AI “helper” is less a convenience and more a surveillance drone, constantly mining your habits to improve its next suggestion. The same goes for macOS, where iCloud silently backs up your photos, notes and even your clipboard. Apple likes to brag about encryption, yet the default settings push everything into its ecosystem, leaving you with the illusion of control while the data flows elsewhere.

Linux refuses that script. The installer asks you what you want, not what the vendor thinks you need. Tools like Rufus or Balena Etcher make creating a bootable USB a matter of a few clicks, and the process finishes faster than you can finish a coffee. Distributions such as Mint and Zorin are built for people who want a familiar desktop without the corporate baggage. Icons look like something you’d expect from a modern OS, menus behave predictably, and the whole experience feels like a clean slate rather than a rebranded version of someone else’s product.

Linux Mint has a so called Cinnamon desktop, which mimics the layout of classic Windows environments: a panel at the bottom, a start‑style menu and familiar window controls. The default software selection includes a file manager, media player, image viewer and a suite of basic utilities. Mint’s Update Manager groups security patches separately from feature updates, allowing you to prioritize critical fixes. The community maintains a robust set of documentation and forums, so any hiccup you encounter has a solution waiting a quick search away.

Zorin OS takes the familiarity route a step further. Its layout mirrors Windows 10’s task bar and start menu, and the Zorin Appearance tool lets you switch between “Windows,” “macOS” and “Ubuntu” styles with a single click. The installer offers a guided migration path that imports user data from a Windows partition, preserving documents, pictures and browser bookmarks. For the stubborn few who cling to a Windows‑only application, there’s Wine. It translates Windows calls into Linux calls, letting you run that legacy game or niche accounting tool without breaking your new environment. It isn’t perfect, but it’s a safety net that lets you transition at your own pace instead of forcing a hard reset.

LibreOffice replaces the office suite you were told you couldn’t live without. Open, feature rich, compatible with the formats you already own. No subscription, no hidden upgrades, just a program that opens documents, spreadsheets and presentations without demanding a credit card. Most essential software lands in the distro’s app store: browsers, media players, photo editors, development tools. You click, you install, you’re done. No need to hunt through endless web pages for the right installer. By the way, LibreOffice works on Windows as well, you can take it for a spin to see, whether it fits. (It does.)

Linux kernels are renowned for their efficient resource management. On identical hardware, a typical Mint or Zorin installation consumes far less RAM than a fresh Windows 11 install, leaving more memory for productive tasks. Boot times shrink dramatically because the init system loads only essential services. The modular architecture means that you can strip away unnecessary daemons, further tightening the attack surface.

Switching from Windows to Linux is not a leap into the unknown, it’s a step onto a well‑paved road that has been refined for years. The learning curve is shallow because the community has already solved the problems you might encounter. Forums, tutorials, video guides – all free, all accessible. You’ll spend less time wrestling with forced updates and more time actually getting work done.

Stop handing over your data to corporations that profit from it. Grab a USB stick, flash Mint or Zorin (or any other Linux distro), boot, install, and watch the privacy nightmare dissolve. Your computer should serve you, not the other way around. Embrace the freedom, enjoy the speed, and remember that the best security starts with owning the software you run.

It’s time to reclaim your privacy. The future is open, the tools are ready, and the only thing standing between you and a truly private desktop is the decision to press “Install.” Go ahead, make the switch and feel the difference.