So I’ve recently been interested in doing a complete switch from Windows to Ubuntu, and I’ve been playing around with WSL2 in Windows quite a bit and I have to admit I am pretty impressed with their implementation.
However, one of the reasons I’ve been drawn to Linux these days is the privacy aspect, and I’m looking to get everyone’s thoughts on whether using Linux apps in WSL improves your privacy at all, or do I need to just flat out get off windows to get any sort of privacy benefit. My plan is to eventually get off Windows completely, but I guess I’m wondering if WSL is a good middle ground.
Windows has complete access to the WSL file system, so there’s zero privacy improvement. If you’re concerned with privacy, take a look at Arch Linux or Gentoo to install only the components you want, or if you are looking for extreme privacy, check out Tails or possibly QubesOS. Those are probably not the place to start learning about Linux but you mentioned privacy. Ubuntu, Fedora, etc. all have telemetry and crap built in so if you want privacy/anonymity you should look at other systems like the ones I mentioned. Have fun, good luck.
I’ll also add to this that WSL is a security nightmare. If something manages to dig its way into your wsl install and add, for example, WINE, there’s no end to the (hidden to your av) mischief it can enact.