this post was submitted on 27 Jan 2025
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How to grandma-proof Linux? (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 days ago by stefounet@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.world
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In short, my question is "Is there a way to prevent a non-malicious but unknowledgable and clumsy user to ruin their own home directory?"

Say my grandma opens a file browser looking for a picture, finds those dot files or those mysteriously-named directories distracting, sets her mind to deleting them. And assume she somehow finds a way to do so. While I understand that dot files or mysteriously-named directories of a non-privileged user are of no ultimate importance, it is a maintenance nightmare.

Plus, it's not only mysterious files that are prone to be targetted. She might well delete by accident the picture she was looking for.

Two kinds of solutions that come to mind are: -Restrict file permissions in an adequate way -Implement an easily operable, fool-proof, back-in-time scheme

Is there a mainstream, well-supported distro of GNU/Linux that has figured this use-case out?

I figure it might come in handy when Window 10 is no longer supported and the reports of hacks keep coming in.

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[–] thanksforallthefish@literature.cafe 10 points 2 days ago

Ok. I have pretty much this use case live and have had for about 4 years. With 5 different elderly users.

My solution: Linux Mint (standard Cinnamon) it's easy to use and supports pretty much all hardware with no faffing around.

The file browser in default settings doesnt show the dot directories in home. Granny is unlikely to break out any CLI chops but even if she does...

Setup automatic OS updates with automatic timeshift snapshots.

Add the dot directories to the snapshots.

Leave instructions that if they turn it on they have to leave it on for a half hour (so snapshot completes).

That's it, you're good. Setup a remote access software if you can't just walk across the road to provide support.

Real world they've never broken anything more significant than deleting an icon they still wanted on the desktop.