There’s a German proverb I’ve always liked: “Der kluge Mann baut vor” which means the wise man builds in advance. It feels especially relevant when I think about the internet.
Back in the 1990s, the web was an amazing place. The only real pain was slow connections. But fast forward thirty years, and anyone can see what has become of the once open, neutral, recreational, and educational space. Complexity, surveillance, and malicious actors have turned what was once a playground into a battlefield. And now, with AI accelerating both sides, defenders and attackers, it’s time to think ahead.
Why Harden a Home Network?
I asked myself: How can I harden my multi‑PC home network? The answer wasn’t about buying expensive hardware or enterprise‑grade firewalls. It was about rethinking how I use the machines I already own.
The truth is, not every computer needs to be online. In fact, the most secure computer is one that isn’t connected to the internet at all. That realization became the foundation of my setup.
My Three‑PC Setup
I run a small home lab with three machines:
- A Dell Precision 3440 running MX Linux
- A Windows 11 Pro laptop with an NVIDIA GPU for 3D work
- A Mac Studio for creative projects
Here’s the key: only one of them, the Linux box, stays online full‑time. The other two are airgapped, connected only to a local switch for sharing files. If they ever need internet access, I connect them briefly through my phone’s hotspot. That way, they never store Wi‑Fi credentials and can’t accidentally reconnect without my knowledge.
Offline Longevity
One of the best discoveries in this process:
- Windows 11 Pro can run offline indefinitely once activated.
- macOS also runs perfectly offline, with FileVault encryption keeping data safe at rest.
Neither system requires me to log in to Microsoft or Apple. I’ve stripped out as much bloat as possible, and both machines are dedicated to offline work. No email, no browsing, just pure productivity.
Why MX Linux?
I tested Ubuntu, openSUSE, Fedora, Manjaro, and CachyOS. All had strengths, but MX Linux stood out. It’s the only distribution that includes a must‑have feature: the ability to snapshot a working system into an ISO.
That snapshot capability is like having a personal “golden image.” If something goes wrong, I can reinstall my fully configured system in under ten minutes. Combined with MX Tools, which make system administration simple, MX Linux became my clear choice as the always‑online workstation. It handles email, browsing, shopping, banking, and what ever comes my way.
Casual Sessions with Tails
For casual internet use, I sometimes boot into Tails Linux. Not so much for privacy, but for the clean slate it provides. When Tails shuts down, everything is wiped, no traces, no questionable attachments lingering, no piggy‑backing malware. It’s perfect for daily recreation like watching YouTube videos or browsing tech news sites.
The Practical Side
This setup isn’t complicated or expensive:
- A cheap network switch costs around $20.
- Ethernet cables are inexpensive.
- An external SSD formatted as exFAT makes file transfers easy across all platforms.
And the principle is simple: no computer is more secure than one that isn’t connected to the internet. If a connection is needed, I plug into the ISP modem, update, and disconnect. Yes, it takes a bit more time than pressing a button, but the peace of mind is worth the price.
Closing Thoughts
The internet has changed, and not always for the better. Dishonest actors forced everyone to harden their methods, and now AI is making the landscape even more unpredictable. My answer is to unplug, to build in advance, as the proverb says.
By compartmentalizing my machines, dedicating MX Linux as the online gateway, and keeping macOS and Windows computers offline, I’ve created a home network that feels resilient against whatever comes next.
It may not be the most convenient setup, but it’s the one I trust. And in today’s world, that trust is priceless.