How to install Ubuntu Linux theme on Windows.

If you are a Windows user and are skeptical of switching to Linux but like the overall feel and look of Linux or Ubuntu in this case, then this theme's for you developed by DeviantArt.

Linux comes in different forms known as distributions and each one feels like a different OS but Ubuntu is the most popular of the distributions available and people prefer Ubuntu over other distros because of its simplicity and easy-to-use interface.


By installing Maverick, you can experience the dark grey and orange style interface but if you are expecting the app launcher and left-aligned panel of Ubuntu and if you think that it will turn your OS into Ubuntu clone, then you are in the wrong place.

Previously, I have discussed the reasons why Linux is better than Windows and I hope that I have convinced a lot of Windows users to make the jump but if you are still having doubts about experiencing Linux first hand and want to taste what the OS feels like. Here is a step-by-step guide.

FOR WINDOWS 10

1. Create a restore point using System Restore.
2. Install UxStyle. Go to this link, select your operating system, download the file and follow the on-screen steps.
3. Rename the file to aerolite.msstyles.backup, which you can find in the directory "C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero". If you are unable to rename the file then you will have to take ownership rights.
4. Install the fonts in the Resource\Fonts folder.
5. Install the theme by copying the contents of the theme folder in "C:\Windows\Resources\Themes"
6. Apply theme in Personalize panel.
7. Apply the registry settings by applying the maverick_10_window_metrics.reg in the Windows Metrics folder.
8. Restart Windows and enjoy!

FOR WINDOWS 8/8.1

1. Create a restore point using System Restore.
2. Install UxStyle. Go to this link, select your operating system, download the file and follow the on-screen steps.
3. Install the fonts in the Resource\Fonts folder.
4. Install the theme by copying the contents of the theme folder in "C:\Windows\Resources\Themes"
5. Apply theme in Personalize panel.
6. Apply the registry settings by applying the maverick_8.1_window_metrics.reg in the Windows Metrics folder.
7. To remove the hover glow of the taskbar buttons, System>Advanced Settings>Performance Settings>Uncheck Animations in the taskbar.
8. Restart Windows and enjoy!

ALSO READ: Best 6 Linux Penetration Testing Distros for Hackers

FOR WINDOWS 7

1. Create a restore point using System Restore.
2. Install UxStyle. Go to this link, select your operating system, download the file and follow the on-screen steps.
3. Install the fonts in the Resource\Fonts folder.
4. Install the theme by copying the contents of the theme folder in "C:\Windows\Resources\Themes"
5. To change the start orb, Use Windows 7 Start Button Changer by Kishan-Bagaria.
6. To remove the blured edges of the Windows, use Windows 7 Aero Blur Tweaker to remive the Windows blur.
7. Restart and enjoy!

Credit goes out to Deviantart and if you want more detailed step-by-step guide, you can visit their site.

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Best 6 Linux Penetration Testing Distros for Hackers

Linux penetration testing distributions are special purpose Linux distributions used for analyzing and evaluating network security.
A penetration test is a test carried out on a system or a network with the intention of finding security holes and weaknesses.

Today, the demand for security and penetration testers has increased exponentially and there are not enough penetration testers out there to keep up with requirements.

The term hacker is often taken in the wrong sense but that is not the case. Actually a hacker is someone who seeks and exploits weakness in a system. They are also referred to as white hats, security testers or computer programmers. The term cracker is the more appropriate word for someone who cracks into a system just for his own gain. They are also referred to as black hats.

Many Linux penetration testing distributions come packing with different tools and apps that help point out and exploit a hole in a system or a network.

Here is a list of some popular and most used penetration testing distros for Hackers or security testers out there.

NodeZero Linux

NodeZero is Ubuntu based Linux which can also be used for penetration testing. With NodeZero comes around 300 tools for penetration testing.

NodeZero was formally known as Ubuntu Pentest Edition and was the 1st Ubuntu/Gnome based penetration testing distro that was released. NodeZero was built on top of Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Lucid Lynx.

NodeZero features THC IPV6 Attack Toolkit which includes tools like alive6, detect-new-ip6, dnsdict6, dos-new-ip6, fake-advertise6, fake-mipv6, fake_mld6, fake_router6, implementation6, implementation6d, parasite6, recon6, redir6, rsmurf6, sendpees6, smurf6, toobig6, and trace6.

Since NodeZero Linux is based on Ubuntu, it comes with great stability and reliability.

You can download NodeZero Linux here.

Pentoo Linux

Pentoo Linux is based on Live CD focused towards security testing and based on Gentoo. Pentoo is also available as an overlay for an existing Gentoo installation. It’s basically a gentoo install with lots of customized tools, customized kernel, and much more. Here is a non-exhaustive list of the features currently included :

•     Hardened Kernel with aufs patches
•     Backported Wifi stack from latest stable kernel release
•     Module loading support ala slax
•     Changes saving on usb stick
•     XFCE4 wm
•     Cuda/OPENCL cracking support with development tools
•     System updates if you got it finally installed.

      

Source

You can download Pentoo Linux from their official site.

Matriux

Matriux is a distro which is relatively new and is a fully featured security disctribution consist of over 300 free tools called arsenals which can be used to penetrate systems and is based on debian. Matriux is designed to run from live CD or USB and can be installed on hard drive as well.

Matriux offers many forensics tools under its Arsenal in Digital-Forensics category.

The distro can be download their official site.

Parrot Security OS

Parrot Security OS is also a relatively new player in the Linux world and is also a debian-based penetration testing OS designed for easy use. It is a very versatile OS and is also very suitable for daily use. Parrot OS is designed for everyone from newbie to a highly professional security tester. It has a very devoted and committed development team known as Frozenbox Network. The Parrot OS is a cloud-friendly operating system focused on anonymity and complete encryption for the user.

The latest version of Parrot Security OS can be downloaded from here.

BlackArch Linux

BlackArch is a lightweight expansion to Arch Linux geared towards penetration testers and hackers. The repository contains 1233 tools. Although BlackArch Linux is past the beta stage but it is still a relatively new project. I highly recommend that you check out this distro if you are comfortable with Arch.

You can download BlackArch Linux from their official site.

Kali Linux

Unarguably the most versatile and the most used Penetration Testing OS in the Linux world and my personal favourite and go-to OS for daily use. It is also based on debian and is maintained and funded by Offensive Security Ltd. It was developed by Mati Aharoni and Devon Kearns of Offensive Security through the rewrite of BackTrack. 

Kali Linux is preinstalled with numerous penetration-testing programs, including nmap (a port scanner), Wireshark (a packet analyzer), John the Ripper (a password cracker), Aircrack-ng (a software suite for penetration-testing wireless LANs), Burp suite and OWASP ZAP (both web application security scanners). Kali Linux can run natively when installed on a computer’s hard disk, can be booted from a live CD or live USB, or it can run within a virtual machine.

The latest version can be downloaded from here.

Final Thoughts

Though there are many distros, some old and mature but some relatively newer, to chose from but in the end it all comes down to personal preference and the distro you are most comfortable with but my personal favourite is Kali Linux which I also use for daily activities.

Please feel free to express your opinions in the comments section below.

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Reasons you should switch from Windows to Linux

Linux Operating System is the 3rd most popular OS followed by Windows and macOS and is rapidly increasing its popularity. There has never been a better time to own a Linux desktop or laptop.

Technically, Linux refers to the kernel not the operating system itself. It is just a kernel and thought of a full OS when combined with GNU Tools and a bunch of other things. When Linus Torvalds invented Linux kernel, he never would have thought that it will transform to the revolutionary OS that it is today.

There is a common misconception among people that only skilled and tech savvy can operate it. This statement can not be more wrong. Yes, there was a time when you had to learn the Command Line Interface (CLI) to operate. Unless you had been living under a rock, that time has passed and anyone can learn to operate it and believe me, you will find it easier than Windows.

Here are the reasons that you should use Linux as your primary OS.


ALSO READ: 5 reasons people refuse to upgrade to Windows 10.

1. SIMPLE & FAST

Linux is way simpler and faster than Windows, and that's old news. That is the reason that Linux runs on 90% of the world's Super Computers. Even anonymous Microsoft developer recently admitted that Linux is far faster than Windows. Windows can afford to be slow, complex and laggy and optimization is not the commercial priority for Windows. Linux is lighter in weight than Windows and the other reason is that Windows has a lot of apps and services running in the background which manufacturers somehow think are useful to the end users, but it results laggy, slow and generally not so likeable experience. The irony with Linux is that people are not aware of its existence, they only know of Windows or Mac and most of them can not afford Mac so they are stuck with using Windows.

2. PRIVACY

The biggest issue facing Windows users is privacy. When Windows 10 was offered as free to its users, reports started rolling that Microsoft's generosity was just a cheap excuse to track its users and collect data. There are many guides and forums you can find on the internet that claim they fix privacy issues but they do not really fix the issue. You just cannot allow Microsoft or anyone for that matter to track your every action even if they are only using to enhance the end user experience

Plus, Windows is is very prone to viruses which we will discuss later in the article. If you are concerned with privacy and don't trust Microsoft, then there is no other viable option other than Linux and hasn't got any of theses issues.

3. MORE SECURE

Windows and Mac, both are very prone to viruses, if a user downloads an e-mail with an attachment and that has a virus, all the user has to do is run the file and end up infecting the system but on the other hand, Linux has tougher program permissions and would require the user to give the program more permissions before it gets a chance to install anything and if in case, virus ends up installed, it will only spread to the local files and folders and system wide damage is saved because users are given lower access. And if a virus or a bug goes public, millions of people all over the world help and try to patch it up. That is the power of open source.

4. NON-AGGRESSIVE UPDATES

This is one of my favorite aspects of Linux. In contrast to Windows, Linux don't force its user to install updates and you can stick with your OS for as long as you like while Microsoft has been forcing its users to install Windows and with Microsoft giving away with Windows 10 for free to Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 7 users, the pop up that pops up every damn time you are doing something important and ruins the entire user experience. Instead of helping, the situation has worsened Microsoft's public image. There have been many cases where Windows 10 was installed without the user's consent.

5. LINUX IS FREE!

Yeah. You heard me. Linux comes free of cost, you don't have to pay a single penny to install Linux unlike Mac or Windows which require you to purchase a license, and when a new version of OS is released, you have to pay the whole amount to get the new version. This is awful really. 

6. FAST EVOLUTION

Windows Vista appeared five years after Windows XP and was a big flop and it took three years for Windows 7 to pop up which personally I am a big fan of and is not the most popular OS today for no reason. So practically, we had to wait eight years for an OS upgrade. On the other hand, most Linux distro are updated every 9-12 months.

ALSO READ: 6 best Linux Penetration Testing Distros for Hackers

7. VARIETY OF DISTRIBUTIONS

There is large variety of Linux distributions to choose from. Based on your taste, you can choose a distro and run with it. Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Debian, Fedora, just to name a few. And if you are not satisfied with a certain distro, you always have an option to jumship to another unlike Windows.

8. NO NEED FOR DRIVERS

Linux distros come packed with all the drivers installed. You just have to plug and play. This is one of the reasons live CDs work so well.

9. THE BOTTOM LINE

I am a very big fan of Linux and just can't emphasize enough that Linux is the OS for you. Come on guys! Just install the damn thing.

See this video below.

Please feel free to express your opinions about this article in the comments section below.

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Microsoft developer admits Linux is faster than WIndows.

Anyone who have used both Linux and Windows know that Linux is way faster than Windows. But now an alleged Microsoft developer has also admitted that Linux is faster than Windows and explains the reason for it.

Its no news that Linux is faster than Windows but now an alleged Microsoft developer has admitted that it actually is the case.

He opened by saying "Windows is indeed slower than other operating systems in may scenarios, and the gap is worsening. The cause of the problem is social. There's almost none of the improvement for its own sake, for the sake of glory, that you see in the Linux world."

The alleged programmer wrote:.

Granted, occasionally one sees naive people try to make things better. These people almost always fail. We can and do improve performance for specific scenarios that people with the ability to allocate resources believe impact business goals, but this work is Sisyphean. There's no formal or informal program of systemic performance improvement. We started caring about security because pre-SP3 Windows XP was an existential threat to the business. Our low performance is not an existential threat to the business.

See, component owners are generally openly hostile to outside patches: If you're a dev, accepting an outside patch makes your lead angry (due to the need to maintain this patch and to justify in shiproom the unplanned design change), makes test angry (because test is on the hook for making sure the change doesn't break anything, and you just made work for them), and PM [project manager] is angry (due to the schedule implications of code churn). There's just no incentive to accept changes from outside your own team. You can always find a reason to say "no", and you have very little incentive to say "yes".

There's also little incentive to create changes in the first place. On linux-kernel, if you improve the performance of directory traversal by a consistent 5 percent, you're praised and thanked. Here, if you do that and you're not on the object manager team, then even if you do get your code past the Ob owners and into the tree, your own management doesn't care. Yes, making a massive improvement will get you noticed by senior people and could be a boon for your career, but the improvement has to be very large to attract that kind of attention. Incremental improvements just annoy people and are, at best, neutral for your career. If you're unlucky and you tell your lead about how you improved performance of some other component on the system, he'll just ask you whether you can accelerate your bug glide.

He also said that Microsoft is losing its top talent to other companies like Google.

This is very bad news for Microsoft that its own talent is saying that Linux is the clear winner in the never-ending war between Linux and Windows.

Please feel free to express your opinions in comments section below.

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