Arweave TX
Ah, Macintosh Computer Day, a moment to bow before the mighty fruit that changed the tech world forever. January 24, 1984, was the day Apple said, “Here’s the future, you’re welcome!” and dropped the original Macintosh like the mic at a keynote speech. It had a cute 9-inch black-and-white display, a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive, and an attitude. Oh, and let’s not forget its $2,495 price tag (roughly $7,000 in today’s dollars)—but hey, genius has a cost.
The Macintosh was a big middle finger to the monotony of clunky command-line interfaces. It ushered in a new era of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), friendly fonts, and that satisfying click of a mouse. It gave creatives their playground and set the stage for every artsy tech nerd to say, “I use Mac because it just works.”
But hold on, did someone say Linux?
Wait, What About macOS and Linux?
Fun fact for your trivia arsenal: macOS is not exactly a direct derivative of Linux—it’s more of a distant cousin thrice removed. macOS traces its roots back to Unix, specifically a Unix variant called BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution). Meanwhile, Linux is the bold independent offspring of Linus Torvalds, born in 1991 with no direct bloodline to the Mac. However, both share the Unix philosophy at their core, making them spiritual siblings. The english is already killing us, we might as well have these small little nothings of facts.
So, you’ve decided to jump into the deep end of tech, and now you’re Googling “how to keep my setup safe from malicious code. Securite, is the main issue, if web3 is to morph into web 5.0, we need secure environments and Dapps. `Windows—the operating system that truly lives up to its name. Like actual windows, it lets almost everything in, even when the windows are supposedly closed, a draft of gremlins, blue screens, bugs, our exes and any other thing that can crawl its way in. Let’s be real: Windows wasn’t built, it was marketed into existence. And oh, what a marketing rollercoaster it’s been!
Windows: A Marketer’s Dream
Where Linux quietly powers the internet, and macOS flaunts its creative vibes, Windows struts into the room with PowerPoint slides, Excel spreadsheets, and just enough gaming to keep it interesting. Say what you will, but they know how to sell:
They sold us Clippy, the most annoying yet lovable paperclip ever.
They sold us Edge (well, tried to, forced down out throat like a new tax).
They even sold us Solitaire as entertainment for decades.
Windows isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s everywhere, because, frankly, it’s the default. Like the plain white bread of operating systems, it’s not fancy, but it gets the job done, to some extent.
Once you know all this, and you still feel a way bit wimpy—hesitant to dive into a full Linux box or the polished glory of macOS just yet. But here’s the thing: it grows on you, and one day, you simply make the leap. For some, this feels like sacrilege—like embracing another religion within the true faith. (And let’s be real, 300 years ago, people were killed for less.)
But fear not, Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL): the unsung hero for "Marketers" looking to secure their code. Windows users who crave the Linux experience without the commitment of dual booting into a more secure world. Think of it as a way to sample Linux’s charms without letting it move in permanently and raid your fridge, take your best t-shirts, a permanent fixture in a committed relationship. "Chips Funga" your way to more security.
WSL is like that chill roommate who does their own dishes. It’s a lightweight layer that lets you run Linux distributions directly on Windows, no virtual machine or black magic required. It’s secure, fast, and surprisingly polite. And yes, it’s here to save your setup from malware, cyber ninjas, and your own reckless "YOLO-let's-run-this-script" moments.
“Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you, it will... if you let it.” – Yoda
Here’s the deal, Padawan: Anything shady happening in WSL stays in WSL—unless, of course, reckless you are. Open the door, you must not, but if foolishly tempted you are, insecure WSL can become.
Allow me, Yoda-style, to guide you through the mistakes that lead to the dark side:
Grant Root-Level Access
Running scripts with sudo when you don’t understand them? Dangerous, this is. Trust blindly, you must not, for malware you summon may wield your power against you.
Excessive File Sharing
Mount your entire C:\ drive with unrestricted access? A shortcut to vulnerability, that is. Sharing too much with WSL, you risk the security of your Windows system.
Example of darkness:
sudo mount --bind /mnt/c /allmyfoldersshared
Beware. Open the door, this does.
Disable Firewall or Antivirus
Thinking, "WSL is separate, protection unnecessary"? Wrong, you are. The force of security tools weakened; nothing stops a malicious WSL process from spreading chaos if given permissions.
Running Unverified Code
Download and run random GitHub scripts? Web3 has all sorts of industry/employment scams, were they want you to run code to access your system and networks.
Granting Excessive Network Access
Allow inbound connections to WSL indiscriminately? A beacon to the dark side, it becomes. Use firewall rules wisely, you must, to protect from external threats.
No Root Access to Windows
Anything shady happening in WSL stays in WSL. It’s like a party in a soundproof room: whatever chaos unfolds inside can’t break into your actual Windows system (unless you explicitly open the door, which we’ll assume you won’t, because you’re smarter than that, right?).
Sandboxing Vibes
WSL creates an isolated environment where your Linux apps run. Malware that thinks it's clever is suddenly like, “Wait… where am I?!” It can’t interact directly with your core Windows system, which is chef’s kiss for security. You feel that condescending laughter growing, stop it, still more stuff to do.
No Persistent Daemons
Those sneaky background processes that love to stick around like a bad ex? They don’t survive across reboots in WSL. So even if something slips through, it’s gone when you restart. Goodbye, sucker!
Controlled Access
Want to make sure a script isn’t reaching for your wallet account details while you’re distracted? WSL doesn’t share your Windows user privileges. Linux processes only get access to what you specifically allow. It’s like giving a dog a leash that’s exactly 5 feet long—control is key.
Step 1: Enable WSL
Fire up your Command Prompt (yes, that one, type cmd and hit Enter—you're already a hacker in the making) and run this magical incantation:
wsl --install
Boom! You’ve got WSL, as easy as you've got mail.
Step 2: Pick Your Flavor
Choose your Linux distribution, like Ubuntu, Debian, or Kali Linux (if you want to feel like a spy). Install it via the Microsoft Store. Yes, the store—who knew?
Step 3: Get It Running
Open your chosen Linux distro, and it’ll prompt you to create a user account. Pro tip: Use a strong password—like, not “password123. Be better”
Step 4: Update & Secure
Update your packages because even digital life needs freshening up:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
Step 5: Go Nuts!
Start running Linux commands, install tools, or, if you’re fancy, set up Docker for your dev projects. You’re now officially cooler than 90% of Marketers, sorry, other Windows users.
Speed: WSL 2 is powered by a lightweight virtual machine but runs like its natively part of Windows. Imagine a Ferrari engine, in your Probox.
Seamless File Sharing: Need access to your Windows files? /mnt/c/Users/You/ is your best friend.
Development Perks: Build and test code in Linux while sipping coffee in Windows. Your productivity will skyrocket.
Battery-Friendly: Unlike heavyweight VMs, WSL won’t send your laptop into cardiac arrest, even for the desktops, those old immovable laptops with dead batteries. Be better, buy a new machine, and stop charging it all day.
WSL is like a nerdy superhero—it may not wear a cape, but it will protect your setup while letting you live the Linux dream. Just don’t get cocky and start running sketchy scripts from that one GitHub repo written in Comic Sans, by someone called Revenge of the Sick.
So, set up WSL, flex on your friends, and let the good times roll. You’re now officially too cool for malware.
Fabian Owuor