Securing your device is one of the most significant concerns for every PC or laptop user in today’s world. There are lots of threats out there just setting to get into your local disk and wreak havoc. And they can very well do it if you do not know where your operating system security is low.
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The Essential Guide to Virtual Machine Security and Setup
If you have any of the three main OS for computers in the world – Windows, Mac, and Linux, then you presumably know about automatic updates. If you miss any of these or any others on the critical software you use, then you are leaving the door for hackers wide open.
Now, if a hacker takes the edge of this door left open, then your device is already jeopardized. Once they are in, they can log your keystrokes, run applications remotely, record webcam images, and do various other scary things. So, any sane person would require to keep their device protected from these wicked agents.
One of the best techniques to protect your device from such security violations is to utilize a virtual machine simply. This technology is employed to run a meaningful portion of cloud computing services. It is possible to cover your computer security while you access anything which doesn’t have full-scale security.
Virtual machines can be utilized to preserve online businesses as well. They can be coupled with Tor and can route traffic through anonymized servers. This prevents any single compromised software from infecting the rest of the device. So, even if a hacker gets through to software, they will not be able to access the whole device.
How does Virtualization Enhance Security?
Virtualization has numerous benefits to offer to all sorts of businesses. IT is a huge part of almost all industries, and it makes sense to improve its security as much as possible. Virtualization can be desegregated into any IT infrastructure. It can also be utilized to optimize the work process and performance from the digital front.
Separating From the Central OS
It is a well-known fact that human failure is one of the most important causes of all sorts of security violations. This problem can be reduced simply by having a virtual machine. When you click on a malicious link, the virtual machine will be affected, and your device will be secure. Your underlying operating system will not be compromised.
Snapshot Based Quick Recovery
Snapshots are like restore points for your operating systems and can be employed very efficiently to tackle threats. A good example when you can use these is when you need to open a shady link or file which might infect your device. So, you can use the VM or virtual machine to take a snapshot of your system, and if it is infected, you can revert to the previous state. This will completely overwrite any new elements introduced to your system by the malicious file, link, or program.
Prevent OS Fingerprinting
Browser and OS fingerprinting is a standard feature for any computer which is connected to the internet. But this can be avoided by using a virtual machine.
An Elementary Guide for Installing a Linux Virtual Machine on Windows
1. Install VirtualBox
VirtualBox is an Oracle program you can download for free. This is the core software we will use for the whole virtualization process.
2. Download Linux
Once you have VirtualBox, you will need the version of Linux you want to run. Choose the Linux type you want wisely as it will ultimately determine what you can do with it. Once you have downloaded that version, you can move to the next.
Once you find the version you want to try, download the installation file. You should end up with an ISO file in your Downloads folder.
3. Establish the Virtual Machine
Bring up VirtualBox and click on New. Follow the steps below:
Name And OS
Name the VM setting you are going to use, then go to the Type option. From the dropdown menu, select the specific Linux version you will be using. If you can’t find the specific one you are using, just use the Other Linux option.
Memory Size
Now you need to choose the memory size you want to dedicate to the Virtual Machine. This memory will be derived from your overall physical RAM, so be careful how much you allocate.
Hard Drive
Leave it to VirtualBox to create a drive for you using the “create a virtual hard drive” option.
Hard Drive File Type
There are many options here you can explore later. For the moment, you can choose VDI.
Physical Storage Space
This decision is based on any previous choices you made for disk allocation. So, accordingly, select “Dynamically allocated” if you have an expandable drive file or a fixed size drive file. So, therefore, the space allocated to the VM is going to expand or shrink as per the available space.
File Location And Size
This is where you can name your virtual hard drive and select its storage location. You should also mention how much of your hard drive you are going to need for your virtual memory.
Once you have done all the above, you will see that your name is mentioned in Step 1. There will be a powered off button next to it. Let us start by turning it on.
4. Install the Linux OS
We have finally concluded the setup process for our virtual OS. However, we still need to execute or install it. So, select your VM and press the start button.
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Wrap up – The Essential Guide to Virtual Machine Security and Setup
Once you do that, the following window will ask you to choose a startup disk. Select your Linux OS ISO from the dropdown menu. Click start after selecting it. You should see a boot-up options window open up in front of you. Follow through with the setup process, which is simple enough. Be sure to choose the right option you want between the free software trial and the complete install. Once you have done that, you are ready to go with your Linux VM.
