cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/17506000
I am not satisfied with Linux’s security and have been researching alternative open source OS for privacy and security So far only thing that’s ready to use is GrapheneOS (Based on Android) but that’s not available on desktop (Though when Android release Desktop mode it may become viable)
Qubes OS is wrapper around underlying operating systems, so it doesn’t really fix for example Linux’s security holes it just kinda sandbox/virtualize them
OpenBSD is more secure than Linux on a base level but lack mitigations and patches that are added to linux overtime and it’s security practices while good for it’s time is outdated now
RedoxOS (Written in Rust) got some nice ideas but sticks to same outdated practices and doesn’t break the wheel too much, and security doesn’t seems to be main focus of OS
Haiku and Serenity are outright worse than Linux, especially Haiku as it’s single user only
Serenity adopted Pledge and Unveil from OpenBSD but otherwise lacks basic security features
All new security paradigms seems to be happening in microkernels and these are the ones that caught my eyes
None of these are ready to be used as daily driver OS but in future (hopefully) it may change
Genode seems to be far ahead of game than everything else
Ironclad Written in ADA
Atmosphere And Mesosphere Open Source Re-implementation of Nintendo Switch’s Horizon OS, I didn’t expected this to be security-oriented but seems like Nintendo has done a very solid job
Then there are Managarm, HelenOS, Theseus but I couldn’t figure out how secure they are
Finally there is Kicksecure from creators of Whonix, Kicksecure is a linux distro that plans to fix Linux’s security problems
if you know of any other OS please share it here
What’s your issue with Linux? The kernel? The userland?
Keep in mind that GrapheneOS is Android which runs a modified Linux kernel, too.
Maybe use one of the other operating systems?
Or less known things like Debian GNU/kFreeBSD or the Hurd kernel? or normal BSD?
Have you tried the more modern hardening approaches to Linux? Containerization / Virtualization?
What’s the use-case and threat scenario?
Both Kernel and userland
Android runs a linux kernel yes but is very far from normal linux distros, it almost alleviate all of problems with linux
Hurd kernel’s concept seems solid but it doesn’t look like actively developed?
OpenBSD might be best choice as you say at least until Genode or something similar become useable
As I mentioned in post Kicksecure plans to harden Linux but is not there yet, For virtualization and containerization there is QubesOS but still that doesn’t seem ideal and it requires some beefy hardware
MacOS? It has quite some additional stuff on top regarding sandboxing and fine permissions on the desktop that Linux is still missing.
And with some things I don’t agree. QuebesOS looks like a pretty standard Linux with Xen and a few other things preconfigured (In a sane way.) I do the same with Debian. And I can apply hardening to the kernel. And do sandboxing, set capabilities for processes etc.
Also keep in mind that there are a lot of eyes on the Linux source code, BSD etc… And lots of specific migitations implemented. With other niche projects not so much… That could compromise your security at a different point. But all of that depends on your threat scenario.
MacOS’s security is great but unfortunately not open source
QubesOS’s sandboxing/virtualization is way above whatever you can do on Debian