Steam deck with steam os discussion...

[Annihilator]

... the steam os on the deck, i have preordered for q2, security is enabled? Because i want know if needed an antivirus firewall like windows and want ask if is possible install one in that case.

Thx :)

[Annihilator]

If one tryng it reply here for know how work the security and if is needed.


O need install windows 10/11?

[KillahInstinct]

It's Linux. Installing Windows is an option, but not recommend due to many optimizations in SteamOS. What are you planning to do with it is a better question?

Or, why do you think it needs a firewall?

[Annihilator]

Originally posted by KillahInstinct:

It's Linux. Installing Windows is an option, but not recommend due to many optimizations in SteamOS. What are you planning to do with it is a better question?

Or, why do you think it needs a firewall?

Hello thx for reply moderator :) i want playng more than one game like gta online or red dead online. But not only :) just for example because have a lot different game like anno 1800 or age of empires.

About security is important for me(specially in this period of cyberattack) just to know if needed antivirus and firewall because i never used a linux but only windows.

[KillahInstinct]

Originally posted by Annihilator:

Originally posted by KillahInstinct:

It's Linux. Installing Windows is an option, but not recommend due to many optimizations in SteamOS. What are you planning to do with it is a better question?

Or, why do you think it needs a firewall?

Hello thx for reply moderator :) i want playng more than one game like gta online or red dead online. But not only :) just for example because have a lot different game like anno 1800 or age of empires.

About security is important for me(specially in this period of cyberattack) just to know if needed antivirus and firewall because i never used a linux but only windows.

I'll probably get corrected on this but if you just use it to play games you should be pretty safe and a firewall isn't going to change much.

If you want to use it as a full fledged OS you can, and you will need to be more mindful of security but you can do that too with Linux. I am not sure on the specifics seeing we don't have them in our hands yet nor is SteamOS3 out.

[Annihilator]

Ah understand :) thx again.

The important not have a issue about security for me because i never get hijacked the account but can happens to receive a link from a friend with virus sometimes and can be missclicked the link in the small screen with touchscreen.


Maybe im obsessed about security :D

[Electric Cupcake]

Firewalls and antivirus are completely different things.

Historically, Linux was built from the ground up with security in mind, and you don't really need antivirus. Firewall should ideally be handled at your router, but you should be able to use iptables or at least edit your hosts file, assuming that "steamos-readonly" nonsense doesn't interfere.

[Electric Cupcake]

Since only flatpak installs are enabled by default, I would love to know how well Minigalaxy and Gog games work on the Deck.

https://flathub.org/apps/details/io.github.sharkwouter.Minigalaxy

And for that matter, does MultiMC work okay?

[Annihilator]

Yes is different thing antivirus and firewall, of course, :) but certain antivirus have integrated firewall and for that talking about it.

But if is built for security good to know ;) thx!

[[N]ebsun]

For Linux, use IPtables rules, or if you can't be bothered or it's too complicated, use something like UFW (open source)

ClamAV for anti-virus (open source)

Firewall would be especially recommended if travelling and using public internet

[Annihilator]

I have kaspersky on windows i hope can install it in that case.

[Haruspex]

Here's my recommendation:

Most malware is made for Windows, as such it simply won't work at all under Linux. For this reason alone, your chances of getting your Steam Deck infected with malware are extremely low.

That being said, it's not impossible, but let's talk about how viruses get into a computer in 2022 in the first place?

Typically speaking, you need to actively download and install a virus yourself to get infected. The malware will usually be disguised as something you want, like a game, movie, or piece of software. This is why sailing the seas and drinking grog increases your chances of getting a virus dramatically.

If you stick to official and reputable channels for your stuff, your chances of getting a virus a impossibly slim to zero. I have never used any kind of anti-virus on any of my Linux machines, and I have never once gotten any malware.

If you plan on using your Steam Deck for regular computing tasks in addition to playing Steam games, I recommend you use an adblocker extension like Ublock Origin with the browser and stay off sketchy sites. This is just good advice no matter what kind of computer you're using.

Be mindful of the potential overhead an anti-virus could introduce. On a powerful desktop, that might not matter much, but the Steam Deck is a low powered APU handheld. The overhead of realtime anti-virus always running in the background and checking your files may hit harder.

[Electric Cupcake]

Originally posted by 8bitbeard:

sailing the seas and drinking grog increases your chances of getting a virus dramatically

Um. Grog is more of a Royal Navy thing. Just water with some rum mixed in to sanitize it and make it potable. Sometimes citrus juice is added. Unless the press-gang scum nabbed ye, there be no reason any honest son of a gambolier would favor that swill if there bein' a choice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPFU6nK50ec

[Haruspex]

Originally posted by Electric Cupcake:

Originally posted by 8bitbeard:

sailing the seas and drinking grog increases your chances of getting a virus dramatically

Um. Grog is more of a Royal Navy thing. Just water with some rum mixed in to sanitize it and make it potable. Sometimes citrus juice is added. Unless the press-gang scum nabbed ye, there be no reason any honest son of a gambolier would favor that swill if there bein' a choice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPFU6nK50ec

Understandable, unless we're talking shore leave. Whole other set of "malware" you could potentially catch with some of those ladies.

[[N]ebsun]

Originally posted by 8bitbeard:

Most malware is made for Windows, as such it simply won't work at all under Linux. For this reason alone, your chances of getting your Steam Deck infected with malware are extremely low.

That being said, it's not impossible, but let's talk about how viruses get into a computer in 2022 in the first place?

Malware written for Windows often ends up on Linux servers, which then gets transferred later onto a Windows machine. AV scanners for Linux still have the signatures for Windows malware, so it is still good practise to perform scans.

Originally posted by 8bitbeard:

Typically speaking, you need to actively download and install a virus yourself to get infected. The malware will usually be disguised as something you want, like a game, movie, or piece of software. This is why sailing the seas and drinking grog increases your chances of getting a virus dramatically.

https://commons.lbl.gov/display/cpp/Drive-By+Downloads
Drive by downloads are less common these days, but they are still out there - and can be served without the site owners knowledge through malicious ads. These ones are the ones that you need protection against, since you are not likely to suspect it.

Originally posted by 8bitbeard:

If you stick to official and reputable channels for your stuff, your chances of getting a virus a impossibly slim to zero. I have never used any kind of anti-virus on any of my Linux machines, and I have never once gotten any malware.

+1, always use official repositories (but also note that there are cases of malware slipping in)
https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/129243/has-malware-ever-been-found-in-a-package-from-a-large-linux-distribution-and-wha

[Electric Cupcake]

Originally posted by Nebsun:

Originally posted by 8bitbeard:

Most malware is made for Windows, as such it simply won't work at all under Linux. For this reason alone, your chances of getting your Steam Deck infected with malware are extremely low.

That being said, it's not impossible, but let's talk about how viruses get into a computer in 2022 in the first place?

Malware written for Windows often ends up on Linux servers, which then gets transferred later onto a Windows machine. AV scanners for Linux still have the signatures for Windows malware, so it is still good practise to perform scans.

Originally posted by 8bitbeard:

Typically speaking, you need to actively download and install a virus yourself to get infected. The malware will usually be disguised as something you want, like a game, movie, or piece of software. This is why sailing the seas and drinking grog increases your chances of getting a virus dramatically.

https://commons.lbl.gov/display/cpp/Drive-By+Downloads
Drive by downloads are less common these days, but they are still out there - and can be served without the site owners knowledge through malicious ads. These ones are the ones that you need protection against, since you are not likely to suspect it.

Originally posted by 8bitbeard:

If you stick to official and reputable channels for your stuff, your chances of getting a virus a impossibly slim to zero. I have never used any kind of anti-virus on any of my Linux machines, and I have never once gotten any malware.

+1, always use official repositories (but also note that there are cases of malware slipping in)
https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/129243/has-malware-ever-been-found-in-a-package-from-a-large-linux-distribution-and-wha

Except the Steamdeck blocks repositories by default and wants people to use snappacks and flatpaks. To use PacMan you have to disable the filesystem lockout.