Your network.
Your system.
Your freedom.

Names matter: “Linux” names the kernel and is also commonly used for complete distributions. “GNU/Linux” emphasizes GNU’s contribution. Recognizing one contributor does not erase the many others.

A safer internet begins with
more control, less blind trust.

Small changes.
Real independence.

Linux powers much of the web.

GNU/Linux is a major foundation for web hosting and network services. Customization, automation and package management make it a natural choice for independent infrastructure.

W3Techs figures checked on 16 October 2026 report Linux on 63.1% of websites whose operating system is known. This measures websites, not every internet server; it does not establish a claim that “more than 80% of all servers” run Linux.

Fame is no substitute for judgment.

Control over technology raises a broader principle: think independently, question authority and recognize the limits of expertise. Albert Einstein offered a striking example of that last principle in November 1952, when he declined an invitation to become Israel’s second president after the death of Chaim Weizmann. He explained that he lacked the aptitude and experience needed to deal with people in an official capacity. Scientific achievement did not, in his own judgment, qualify him for political office.

The famous remark attributed to him about human stupidity fits the theme of questioning our own judgment:

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe!”

Attributed to Albert Einstein; attribution disputed. Quotation history ↗

The quotation’s attribution remains disputed; his refusal of the presidency is documented. The broader theme is independent judgment: evaluate institutions and technologies by what they do, and keep the ability to question them. Archival correspondence about Einstein’s refusal ↗

Look beyond the innovation story.

The history of software policy in Israel includes a documented tension between support for open alternatives and continued dependence on proprietary suppliers.

On 21 April 2005, Ynet reported that Israel’s Finance Ministry had signed a new three-year Microsoft licensing agreement after earlier moves to stop renewing the framework agreement and encourage open-source alternatives. The article described this as a setback for the government’s open-source policy. This is a specific, dated example of criticism of procurement decisions, rather than an accusation against an entire country or its developers. Read the contemporary report ↗

The question of technological power also extends to privacy. On 25 September 2025, Microsoft announced that it had disabled specified cloud and AI services used by a unit within Israel’s Ministry of Defense. Microsoft said its ongoing review had found evidence supporting elements of reporting about mass surveillance of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank. The announcement documents action concerning particular services; it is not evidence of a free-software license violation. Read Microsoft’s dated statement ↗

Together, these cases raise concrete questions about dependence on vendors, public oversight and control of information. Those questions connect with the free software movement’s emphasis on users’ ability to inspect, change and share their tools. The FSF argues that public institutions should adopt free software to protect public control over computing. That is an identifiable position of the movement, not a statement made on behalf of this website’s operator. The FSF’s case for free software in government ↗

Einstein’s refusal of the presidency belongs to a different historical context: in 1952 he declined because he considered himself unsuited to the office. It illustrates the distinction between reputation and suitability for authority; it cannot be used as evidence for claims about today’s software industry.