Free Yourself from Microsoft and the NSA... Learn Linux and Libre Office! Copyright, David Spring M. Ed. Collegeintheclouds.org FreeyourselffromMicrosoftandtheNSA.org September 2013 Free Yourself from Microsoft and the NSA | David Spring M. Ed. Page ii Dedication This book is dedicated to 8 freedom pioneers... Gary Kildall... 1942 -1994 Gary was a computer programmer who in 1975 invented both the DR DOS operating system and the BIOS Computer Start Up Program. Gary is often called the “father of the personal computer.” The original MS Windows operating system, called MS-DOS was a virtual copy of DR DOS – making Microsoft the biggest copyright violator in history. We cover more about Gary Kildall in Chapter 1, Section 3. Thomas Penfield Jackson... 1936 – 2013 Judge Jackson presided over the 1998 – 2000 trial of US versus Microsoft and wrote a 207 page “Findings of Fact” which document many of the events we discuss in this book. Judge Jackson ruled that Microsoft had repeatedly violated the Sherman Antitrust Act and therefore should be broken up. His decision was overturned by a corrupt Court of Appeals. But his Findings of Fact still speak truth to injustice today. Edward Snowden in June 2013, Edward Snowden released NSA documents which changed the course of this book. These NSA documents reveal a massive spy program by the NSA, with the help of Microsoft, and provide additional evidence that support my claims of an NSA “open back door” to the Windows operating system. Edward confirmed my research that the NSA is spying on us. In this book, we explain how they spy on us. Glenn Greenwald Without the courage and determination of Glenn Greenwald, Edward Snowden's story would have been buried by a wall of NSA propaganda. It is a frightening thing that we currently have so few real reporters willing to speak truth to injustice. We must all more closely examine where we are getting our “news” from. Free Yourself from Microsoft and the NSA | David Spring M. Ed. Page iii Richard Stallman Computer programmer, founder of the GNU project and the Free Software Foundation, and advocate for the public and scientific benefits of free software programs. GNU stands for GNU is Not Unix. Unix is a closed source operating system. GNU is basically just a joke that only a computer programmer would understand. It means GNU/Linux is a free operating system. Linus Torvalds Computer programmer and developer of the free open source Linux operating system which is at the heart of the Linux Mint distribution. Linus built the Linux operating system in 1991 and decided to give it away so that everyone would benefit. Linus currently develops and maintains the Linux “core” program for the Linux Foundation in Beaverton, Oregon. Clem Lefebvre Founder of the Linux Mint project – which is the Linux distribution closest to Windows XP and Windows 7. “It is extremely important to us that people are happy with their computer. Our goal is to bring people what they need, what they want and what they ask for. People should not be forced to migrate to something new just because someone else thinks they should.” Aaron Swartz...1986 - 2013 Inventor of RSS (Really Simple Syndication) and advocate for the principle that science and innovation, paid for with public tax payer dollars, belongs in the public domain. Aaron called this basic human right “the freedom to connect.” Aaron said “There is no justice in following unjust laws. It is time to come into the light and oppose the private theft of public knowledge. Sharing knowledge is a moral imperative.” It is because of their devotion to the free exchange of knowledge that we still have the ability to free ourselves from the chains of Microsoft and the NSA. Free Yourself from Microsoft and the NSA | David Spring M. Ed. Page iv On your keyboard, press CTRL+Click to jump to any chapter. Free Yourself from Microsoft and the NSA... Table of Contents Preface: Could All the Conspiracy Theories Actually be True? Chapter 1... How Microsoft became a Branch of the NSA.............1 1.1 Hidden Links between Microsoft and the NSA.............................................2 1.2 Why Linux is More Secure than Windows..................................................13 1.3 Emergence of the Evil Empire....................................................................19 1.4 US Protects Microsoft Monopoly in trade for NSA Backdoor.....................31 Chapter 2... Super Bugs, Cyber Wars, Disastrous Updates and Blackmail..........................................................................................45 2.1 Super Bugs and Cyber Wars......................................................................46 2.2 The Flame Virus and Windows Update Disasters......................................55 2.3 Microsoft Blackmail Warning: Upgrade or Die!...........................................71 2.4 UEFI: The Microsoft - NSA Kill Switch........................................................77 Chapter 3... Why we must end the Microsoft Monopoly..............89 3.1 Top Ten Reasons to use Linux instead of Windows 8................................90 3.2 Why Windows 8 Blue will not fix the Real Problems................................101 3.3 The Fatal Flaw of the Microsoft Windows Monopoly................................107 3.4 The Real Cost of the Microsoft Monopoly................................................117 Chapter 4... Linux to the Rescue..................................................129 4.1 A Brief History of Linux Operating Systems.............................................130 4.2 Benefits of Linux Mint over Linux Ubuntu.................................................143 4.3 Four Steps to the Freedom of Open Source Tools...................................148 4.4 Install Linux Mint in a Virtual Machine......................................................155 Chapter 5... Set up and Use Linux Mint.......................................159 5.1 How to use Linux Mint Mate.....................................................................160 5.2 Set up and use the Mate File Manager....................................................169 5.3 Add Free Programs to Linux Mint Mate....................................................176 5.4 Add a Shared Folder to Linux Mint Mate..................................................183 Free Yourself from Microsoft and the NSA | David Spring M. Ed. Page v Chapter 6... Back Up Your Data and Dual Boot..........................189 6.1 Protect yourself from Windows Booby Traps...........................................190 6.2 Create multiple backups of your system..................................................204 6.3 Dual Boot Linux Mint with Windows XP or Windows 7.............................211 6.4 Dual Boot Linux Mint with Windows 8......................................................231 Chapter 7... Benefits of LibreOffice Writer..................................245 7.1 Why Libre Office Writer is better than Microsoft Word.............................246 7.2 Customizing the Libre Office Writer Main Menu.......................................261 7.3 Create your own Custom Template..........................................................270 7.4 More Free Tools for Libre Writer...............................................................280 Chapter 8... Hidden Benefits of Libre Office...............................291 8.1 Advantages of Libre Writer for Creating a Print or EBook........................292 8.2 Create your own custom styles................................................................297 8.3 Use Libre Office Calc to create a chart....................................................308 8.4 Use Libre Office Impress to make a slide presentation............................314 Chapter 9... Additional Free Open Source Tools........................321 9.1 Free Screen recording tools for Linux Mint..............................................322 9.2 Edit your video with Open Shot Video Editor...........................................333 9.3 Open Source Alternatives to NSA Partners..............................................339 9.4 How to use Windows programs in Linux Mint..........................................357 Chapter 10... Linux Mint Quick Start Guide................................365 10.1 Back up your computer and partition your hard drive............................366 10.2 Dual Boot Linux Mint with Windows XP or Windows 7..........................377 10.3 Easy Steps and Free Tools for Using Linux Mint...................................385 10.4 Final Steps to Freedom..........................................................................396 About the Author.........................................................................................408 Free Yourself from Microsoft and the NSA | David Spring M. Ed. Page vi Preface: Could All the Conspiracy Theories Actually be True? “This wholesale invasion of Americans' and foreign citizens' privacy does not contribute to our security; it puts in danger the very liberties we are trying to protect.” Daniel Ellsberg June 10 2013 Welcome to the open source community and to our comprehensive step by step guide on learning how to install and use free open source tools (software) on your computer. Open source means the software is free and can be shared by anyone with anyone for any purpose. Open source is like a public library...free and open knowledge shared with the community for the common good. Free as in Freedom. No patents, no hassles, no barriers, no limits! If you are concerned about Microsoft handing over your