mfillpot wrote:

I differ in my opinion, sudo represents a potential issue by allowing attackers to potentially access root rights from a standard user account, which may have a weak password. I think it is better practice to keep the root account, remove sudo rights except for specific actions and secure root with a difficult password. As for ssh that should be restricted to not allow root login and limit retries or only allow root ssh access via a key file.

sudo sux

BTW, have you looked at the blog on this site "How to set up a media center . ."?

How's progress?

Good tips, moderator! I believe I had what you refer to happen to me. As such, should one goes with any ubuntu flavor to access the web, I would recomment immediately installing Bastille along with it.

Element is impressive, with its touted "Ten Foot Interface" especially for remotes and for viewing menu from ten feet away. It takes the best multimedia of Ubuntu repos and puts them at your fingertips (Including VLC). Check out Distrowatch --
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=element
I tried element 1.0 after multimedia issues with 9.10 made me stop using it and was impressed with its ease of use; I believe the current version is 1.2 I have since moved on -- but i do not have a Home Theatre! This is what I would use first, if I did.
(HINT: go to the Trash bin -- there is more there than you think)

AndrewCrogonk wrote:

How do I install Linux without having to use a distribution like Fedora or Ubuntu?

The only option I can think of is Ultilex -- http://ultilex.linux-bg.org/ -- it can be run from either CD or USB stick and, technically, is not a distro! It does not have to be installed (see its home page), only copied. The new TinCore is just that -- a minimal core one may add to as it pleases him. http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=tinycore

You may wish to check out Lucid Puppy 5.0.1 (see http://www.puppylinux.com/download/ for download) -- it is capable of the options you allude to in your thread, and more. It is perhaps easier than other LiveCDs (only 129Megs) to use as you desire. It is also a great intro to Linux!