Boot Linux CD & Access HTTPS Websites

TL;DR

This guide shows you how to boot a computer from a Linux CD (or USB) and then access websites that use HTTPS. It’s useful for testing, recovery, or using a live environment without installing an operating system.

Step-by-step Guide

1. Download a Linux Distribution: Choose a lightweight distribution like Ubuntu (Desktop version is fine), Debian, or Fedora. Download the ISO image from their official website.
   • Ubuntu: https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop
   • Debian: https://www.debian.org/distrib/
   • Fedora: https://getfedora.org/
2. Burn the ISO to a CD or Create a Bootable USB Drive:
   • CD: Use software like ImgBurn (Windows), Brasero (Linux), or Disk Utility (macOS) to burn the ISO image directly onto a blank CD.
   • USB: Use Rufus (Windows), Etcher (cross-platform), or `dd` (Linux). Warning: Using `dd` incorrectly can wipe your hard drive! Be very careful.

     sudo dd bs=4M if=/path/to/your.iso of=/dev/sdX status=progress conv=fsync

     Replace `/path/to/your.iso` with the actual path to your downloaded ISO file and `/dev/sdX` with the correct device identifier for your USB drive (e.g., /dev/sdb). Use `lsblk` in Linux to find the correct device.

3. Configure Your BIOS/UEFI:
   • Restart your computer.
   • Press the appropriate key during startup (usually Del, F2, F10, F12, or Esc) to enter the BIOS/UEFI setup. The key varies depending on your motherboard manufacturer. Look for a message on the screen during boot-up.
   • Find the Boot Order settings.
   • Change the boot order so that your CD drive or USB drive is listed before your hard drive.
   • Save the changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI setup.
4. Boot from the Linux CD/USB: Your computer should now boot from the Linux distribution you prepared.
   • You may be presented with options like “Try Ubuntu” or “Install Ubuntu”. Choose “Try [Distribution Name]” to run the live environment without installing.
5. Connect to a Network:
   • Most distributions will automatically detect your network connection. If not, look for a network icon in the system tray (usually at the top or bottom of the screen).
   • Click on the network icon and select your Wi-Fi network if prompted. Enter the password if required.
6. Open a Web Browser: The live environment will usually include a web browser like Firefox.
   • Launch the web browser.
7. Access an HTTPS Website: Type the address of an HTTPS website (e.g., https://www.google.com) into the browser’s address bar and press Enter.
   • The browser should connect to the website securely. You will see a padlock icon in the address bar indicating a secure connection.