How to Use BleachBit on Linux
Want to safely delete unnecessary files from your Linux operating system, reclaim hard-drive space, and protect your privacy? BleachBit does all of this for you!
How to Use the whois Command on Linux
A whois lookup will tell you a lot of information about who owns an internet domain. On Linux, you can run whois lookups from the command line. We’ll walk you through it.
What’s the Difference Between Linux and Unix?
Linux took its inspiration from Unix, but Linux isn’t Unix—although it’s definitely Unix-like. We will explain the major differences between these two famous operating systems.
How to Use Wireshark Filters on Linux
Wireshark is a world-class packet analyzer available on Linux, Windows, and macOS. Its filters are flexible and sophisticated, but sometimes, counterintuitive. We’ll explain the “gotchas” you need to be on t...
How to Use pandoc to Convert Files on the Linux Command Line
You can use pandoc on Linux to convert between more than 40 file formats. You can also use it to create a simple docs-as-code system by writing in Markdown, storing in git, and publishing in any of its supported formats....
Why Desktop Linux Still Matters
The fabled “Year of the Linux Desktop” has never materialized, and it likely never will. Does that mean Linux on a desktop PC is irrelevant? Not at all! Desktop Linux is still awesome.
How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication on a Raspberry Pi
The Raspberry Pi is everywhere now, which is why it’s caught the eye of threat actors and cybercriminals. We’ll show you how to secure your Pi with two-factor authentication.
Why Linux’s systemd Is Still Divisive After All These Years
systemd is 10 years old, but feelings about it in the Linux community haven’t mellowed—it’s as divisive now as it ever was. Although it’s used by many major Linux distributions, the hardcore opposition...
How to Secure Your Linux Server with fail2ban
With fail2ban, your Linux computer automatically blocks IP addresses that have too many connection failures. It’s self-regulating security! We’ll show you how to use it.
How to Audit Your Linux System’s Security with Lynis
If you perform a security audit on your Linux computer with Lynis, it will ensure your machine is as protected as it can be. Security is everything for internet-connected devices, so here’s how to make sure yours are sa...
How to Install and Use TeamViewer on Linux
Are you tech support for your friends and family? TeamViewer makes cross-platform remote support a breeze, and it’s free for private use. Here’s how to install and use it on Linux.
Systemd Will Change How Your Linux Home Directory Works
The team behind systemd want you to adopt a new way of managing home directories. Calling it a “new way” is putting it lightly—this is a real paradigm shift for Linux. Here’s everything you need to kno...
How to Peek Inside Binary Files From the Linux Command Line
Have a mystery file? The Linux file command will quickly tell you what type of file it is. If it’s a binary file, though, you can find out even more about it. file has a whole raft of stablemates that will help you ana...
What Was the Y2K Bug, and Why Did It Terrify the World?
Billions of dollars were spent addressing the Y2K bug. Government, military, and corporate systems were all at risk, yet we made it through, more or less, unscathed. So, was the threat even real?
How to Use tmux on Linux (and Why It’s Better Than Screen)
The Linux tmux command is a terminal multiplexer, like screen. Its advocates are many and vocal, so we decided to compare the two. Is tmux really better, or is it just a case of preferring what you know?...
How to Use the Linux top Command (and Understand Its Output)
The Linux top command is one of the stalwarts of Unix-like operating systems. Its utilitarian display is packed with useful information about your system’s running processes and resource usage. But, did you know it als...
How to Change Your Default Shell on Linux with chsh
Bash isn’t the only Linux shell. It’s easy to try out other shells, like Zsh, which is very popular. When you’ve found one you like, use the chsh command to make it your default shell. We’ll show you ...
What You Need to Know About Snaps on Ubuntu 20.04
Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa is a fantastic release that’s been widely praised. However, the decision to change the Software Center to install snap-based applications is controversial. We’ll explain what that means fo...
How to Set Environment Variables in Bash on Linux
There’s more than one type of environment variable on Linux. Learn how to see them, create them for local and remote logins, and make them survive reboots.
What’s New in Ubuntu 20.04 LTS “Focal Fossa”
Canonical released Ubuntu 20.04 LTS on April 23, 2020. This Long Term Support release includes a shiny new desktop theme and dark mode. Under the hood, you’ll find an upgraded Linux kernel and a new way of installing ap...
How to Use the sed Command on Linux
It might sound crazy, but the Linux sed command is a text editor without an interface. You can use it from the command line to manipulate text in files and streams. We’ll show you how to harness its power....
What Is COBOL, and Why Do So Many Institutions Rely on It?
The governor of New Jersey recently mentioned COBOL, a 60-year-old programming language. What exactly is it? And why is it still the lynchpin of the financial world, despite the fact that few people still know how to use it?...
How to Use the cd Command on Linux
Some Linux commands are so familiar, we don’t even notice we’re using them. The cd command for changing directories is one of these. There are some tricks that can help you become more efficient with cd—or ...
How to Use bmon to Monitor Network Bandwidth on Linux
With the bmon Linux application, you can see the bandwidth usage on your network connections. However, understanding the finer details requires some detective work, so we’ve done it for you!
How to Use the dig Command on Linux
The Linux dig command allows you to query DNS servers and perform DNS lookups. You can also find the domain an IP address leads back to. We’ll show you how!
