Debian User Forums

Posted: **2025-01-01 07:04**

I've had privacy issues with KDE. I have to AL --> places ---> frequently used --> forget all, used constantly. Then, an app called 'bleachbit' in admin mode or normal user mode.

The KDE privacy settings don't work well and still leave some data saving on the desktop.

I've read that gnome has no data saving. First, is gnome the best quality GFX desktop for privacy issues? What other choices? I've read many articles about privacy desktops for linux.

Second, how do I replace kde with gnome(as an example)? Preferred, not reinstalling the full Debian distro. I can backup all the personal data and copy back.

Posted: **2025-01-01 13:27**

In terminal, try:
sudo apt install <new DE>

Reboot and make certain your display manager lets you get into the <new DE>. Run the <new DE> for as long as it takes for you to determine you want it more than KDE. Once you are ready to kill KDE entirely you can uninstall it via terminal (but there is no urgency):

sudo apt remove <old DE>

FWIW I have 6 Window Managers installed and in use at different times (2 on Wayland and 4 on x11) all available/ accessible/ invocable from LightDM (Slick-Greeter)

Posted: **2025-01-01 15:32**

For installing an other desktop, I'll look here. https://wiki.debian.org/DesktopEnvironment

For removing Plasma, be careful and get a backup of your system.

The wiki page mentions

If you'd like to later uninstall everything it added, you can remove the task-kde-desktop package you installed, and run the apt autoremove command. This command removes all packages on your system that weren't manually installed, and aren't a dependency of any other package. This will, in our case, remove all of the packages that were brought in by task-kde-desktop, as it no longer depends on them.

but I would use the apt-get command instead with option -s, because that simulate the procedure and you will have an overview, what is going to happen ... good luck

br KH

Posted: **2025-01-01 19:29**

I've had privacy issues with KDE. I have to AL --> places ---> frequently used --> forget all, used constantly. Then, an app called 'bleachbit' in admin mode or normal user mode.

Why is this a problem? You are scared that you'll see what files you have used? GNU/Linux was made as a multi-user system from the start, and the obvious solution to your "problem" is to create users for anyone else using the computer. I share this computer with my girlfriend - each with different users and preferences. Privacy issues for me? Zero. And I don't even bother deleting anything.

I've read that gnome has no data saving. First, is gnome the best quality GFX desktop for privacy issues? What other choices?

GNOME probably needs an extension for saving recent files, etc. Anyway, also a smaller desktop environment like LXQt or XFCE should be more transparent than KDE in that regard: They are smaller and simpler systems.

Second, how do I replace kde with gnome(as an example)? Preferred, not reinstalling the full Debian distro.

Delete KDE's core libraries and take it from there. By the time you have finished removing all the remaining parts, you will likely have used more time doing so than simply reinstalling and copying your personal files from the backup.

Posted: **2025-01-02 14:10**

Easiest way? As root -

Code: Select all

apt purge task-kde-desktop
apt autoremove

You'll still have some configs leftover in your home directory but those should be easily removed.

Hope this helps -

Posted: **2025-01-02 15:35**

When you purge task-kde-desktop, it removes the metapackage and its system-wide configs, but it may leave behind many KDE packages.

For a full cleanup, one could check the logs in /var/log/apt/ to see what was installed with KDE and manually purge any leftovers.
As for installing GNOME, use tasksel

Code: Select all

# tasksel

Then select GNOME.

Posted: **2025-01-02 16:00**

Hallvor wrote: 2025-01-02 15:35When you purge task-kde-desktop, it removes the metapackage and its system-wide configs, but it may leave behind many KDE packages.

It's been years since I did this so my take may be a bit less than current, but all of task-kde-desktop's dependencies should be marked as automatically installed and apt autoremove *should* remove them. Dependencies of automatically-installed packages should also be autoremoved as long as no other package depends on them.

Posted: **2025-01-02 18:39**

wizard10000 wrote: 2025-01-02 16:00 It's been years since I did this so my take may be a bit less than current, but all of task-kde-desktop's dependencies should be marked as automatically installed and apt autoremove *should* remove them. Dependencies of automatically-installed packages should also be autoremoved as long as no other package depends on them.

To be fair, I haven't tested this in years, but I remember that it was not a success. Perhaps our friend above would be kind and test it and post the results.

I do believe that checking apt log would be the only option if one wanted to surgically remove every package.

Posted: **2025-01-02 21:51**

If there's enough hdd or ssd memory available, why bother with some software installation which is not needed but complicated to remove? I would simply keep it installed and install the wanted DE in parallel. In order to try different DEs, the best way to do this is in a Virtual Machine, which can easily get removed without effecting your working environment.

My advice would be to install the Xfce environment with "apt install task-xfce-desktop" to be sure that all Xfce-tools are included. Xfce is highly configurable, fast, slim, and comes with the least possible surprises or irritation. I switched from Gnome to Xfce many years ago when Gnome came with Version 3 which I could never get friends with, and never thought of change.

BTW, if you really have to get rid of KDE, it might be easier to make a fresh Debian install and restore your data and home from your backup.

Posted: **2025-01-02 22:04**

Hallvor wrote: 2025-01-02 18:39To be fair, I haven't tested this in years, but I remember that it was not a success. Perhaps our friend above would be kind and test it and post the results.

I do believe that checking apt log would be the only option if one wanted to surgically remove every package.

I tried to simulate this with apt-get -s install task-kde-desktop, which worked just fine (and TIL you don't have to be root to run simulations) but removal simulations don't work if the package is not installed, so apt-get -s purge didn't work, which kinda ended my experiment

edit: I tried it for real but apt-listbugs scared me off of the project. I'm doing this on Sid, so there's a chance for breakage.

Posted: **2025-01-09 08:04**

Thanks to all for the responses. I need some time to properly examine all of them.

Privacy issues, read your history about how personal information can be abused. This also a security issue. No one has any right to your personal information without written permission.
Thanks to TOR browser which I use all the time. Plus, there are many offline and online encryption options I use. No further discussion, I'm switching and that's the end of that topic.

There is a debian desktop option?
[*] Debian desktop environment
[ ] GNOME
[ ] Xfce
[ ] KDE Plasma
[ ] Cinnamon
[ ] MATE
[ ] LXDE
[ ] LXQt

I selected kde, since it looked good in web searches.

Posted: **2025-01-09 08:25**

kalle123 wrote: 2025-01-01 15:32 For installing an other desktop, I'll look here. https://wiki.debian.org/DesktopEnvironment

For removing Plasma, be careful and get a backup of your system.

The wiki page mentions

If you'd like to later uninstall everything it added, you can remove the task-kde-desktop package you installed, and run the apt autoremove command. This command removes all packages on your system that weren't manually installed, and aren't a dependency of any other package. This will, in our case, remove all of the packages that were brought in by task-kde-desktop, as it no longer depends on them.
but I would use the apt-get command instead with option -s, because that simulate the procedure and you will have an overview, what is going to happen ... good luck

br KH

Code: Select all

apt-get -s install task-gnome-desktop
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
The following additional packages will be installed:
  aisleriot apache2-bin apg baobab bogofilter bogofilter-bdb bogofilter-common brasero-common cdrdao cheese cheese-common chrome-gnome-shell
  cracklib-runtime eog evince evince-common evolution evolution-common evolution-data-server evolution-data-server-common
  evolution-plugin-bogofilter evolution-plugin-pstimport evolution-plugins file-roller five-or-more folks-common fonts-cantarell four-in-a-row
  gdm3 geocode-glib-common gir1.2-accountsservice-1.0 gir1.2-adw-1 gir1.2-clutter-1.0 gir1.2-cogl-1.0 gir1.2-coglpango-1.0 gir1.2-evince-3.0
  gir1.2-gck-1 gir1.2-gcr-3 gir1.2-gdesktopenums-3.0 gir1.2-gdm-1.0 gir1.2-geoclue-2.0 gir1.2-geocodeglib-2.0 gir1.2-gmenu-3.0
  gir1.2-gnomebluetooth-3.0 gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0 gir1.2-gnomedesktop-4.0 gir1.2-goa-1.0 gir1.2-graphene-1.0 gir1.2-grilo-0.3
  gir1.2-gst-plugins-bad-1.0 gir1.2-gst-plugins-base-1.0 gir1.2-gtk-4.0 gir1.2-gtkclutter-1.0 gir1.2-gtksource-4 gir1.2-gweather-4.0
  gir1.2-handy-1 gir1.2-javascriptcoregtk-4.1 gir1.2-json-1.0 gir1.2-malcontent-0 gir1.2-mediaart-2.0 gir1.2-mutter-11 gir1.2-nma-1.0
  gir1.2-peas-1.0 gir1.2-polkit-1.0 gir1.2-rb-3.0 gir1.2-rest-1.0 gir1.2-rsvg-2.0 gir1.2-shumate-1.0 gir1.2-soup-3.0 gir1.2-totem-1.0
  gir1.2-totemplparser-1.0 gir1.2-tracker-3.0 gir1.2-upowerglib-1.0 gir1.2-webkit2-4.1 gjs gkbd-capplet gnome gnome-2048

This shows changes without an install, if I understand correctly. Did I do this right? Nothing was installed?

Posted: **2025-01-12 01:29**

Hallvor wrote: 2025-01-02 18:39
wizard10000 wrote: 2025-01-02 16:00 It's been years since I did this so my take may be a bit less than current, but all of task-kde-desktop's dependencies should be marked as automatically installed and apt autoremove *should* remove them. Dependencies of automatically-installed packages should also be autoremoved as long as no other package depends on them.
To be fair, I haven't tested this in years, but I remember that it was not a success. Perhaps our friend above would be kind and test it and post the results.

I do believe that checking apt log would be the only option if one wanted to surgically remove every package.

Did a full unison backup of my user folder.

Code: Select all

# apt purge task-kde-desktop
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  kdeaccessibility kmag kmousetool kmouth kontrast libqt5opengl5 libreoffice-kf5 libreoffice-plasma libreoffice-qt5 linux-headers-6.1.0-28-amd64
  linux-headers-6.1.0-28-common print-manager qtgstreamer-plugins-qt5
Use 'apt autoremove' to remove them.
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  task-kde-desktop*
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
After this operation, 6,144 B disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
(Reading database ... 402560 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing task-kde-desktop (3.73) ...
# apt autoremove
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  kdeaccessibility kmag kmousetool kmouth kontrast libqt5opengl5 libreoffice-kf5 libreoffice-plasma libreoffice-qt5 linux-headers-6.1.0-28-amd64
  linux-headers-6.1.0-28-common print-manager qtgstreamer-plugins-qt5
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 13 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
After this operation, 74.2 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
(Reading database ... 402559 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing kdeaccessibility (4:22.12.3+5.142) ...
Removing kmag (4:22.12.3-1) ...
Removing kmousetool (4:22.12.3-1) ...
Removing kmouth (4:22.12.3-1) ...
Removing kontrast (22.12.3-1) ...
Removing qtgstreamer-plugins-qt5:amd64 (1.2.0-5.2) ...
Removing libqt5opengl5:amd64 (5.15.8+dfsg-11+deb12u2) ...
Removing libreoffice-kf5 (4:7.4.7-1+deb12u5) ...
Removing libreoffice-plasma (4:7.4.7-1+deb12u5) ...
Removing libreoffice-qt5 (4:7.4.7-1+deb12u5) ...
Removing linux-headers-6.1.0-28-amd64 (6.1.119-1) ...
Removing linux-headers-6.1.0-28-common (6.1.119-1) ...
Removing print-manager (4:22.12.3-1) ...
Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme (0.17-2) ...
Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.36.0-1.1) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.36-9+deb12u9) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.11.2-2) ...
Processing triggers for libreoffice-common (4:7.4.7-1+deb12u5) ...
Processing triggers for mailcap (3.70+nmu1) ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.26-1) ...
#tasksel

Selected kde and alt-o. Exited to command line.

Firefox worked and other main apps seem to be working normally. The user interface I will need to learn. My two open tab folders from last boot was the same.

Manually deleting the kde cfg's?

search kde in home folder. What do I look for? Anything starting with k?

Cutting and pasting to public folder.
#ls
KDE kdeconnect kded5rc kdedefaults kde.org org.kde.dolphin.desktop Deleted.

Files in .cache:
kmail2 konqueror kontrast krunner kscreenlocker_greet ksmserver-logout-greeter ksplash Deleted.

Posted: **2025-01-12 05:53**

torran_serra wrote: 2025-01-01 07:04 I've had privacy issues with KDE. I have to AL --> places ---> frequently used --> forget all, used constantly. Then, an app called 'bleachbit' in admin mode or normal user mode.

You do realise that you can, quite easily, tell KDE not to save this, and it doesn't. I won't say what I think of Bleachbit.

The KDE privacy settings don't work well and still leave some data saving on the desktop.

On the desktop? Where? Nothing is saved to my desktop other than what I specifically put there.

I've read that gnome has no data saving.

That's rubbish. But there are similar options to KDE to not save some information.

Second, how do I replace kde with gnome(as an example)? Preferred, not reinstalling the full Debian distro. I can backup all the personal data and copy back.

I note from your later post that you've already made up your mind but just wanted to say here that I went through all this years ago. The simple lessons learned were that trying to remove a whole desktop is rarely 100% successful - there are a few small programs often used by multiple desktops and sometimes these would be removed, then needed later. plus there were numerous config files that were not removed. It was, for me, much quicker and easier to wipe the installation and start again. But this means keeping your data separate from your installation or system files as well as your /home directory. I set up a separate partition, or even drive, for "DATA". Easy to protect this so nobody but yourself can have access. I doubt that you'll find Gnome any better and KDE really does have a much more configurable interface.

The desktop you choose should first be based on whether it matches or facilitates your style of working with your computer. Me? I'm old style so windows with proper headers and both drop down menus as well as task bars. So Gnome would be like torture for me. But not for others. For other issues like privacy, real or perceived, most, if not all, desktops allow you to choose the options that you want. Finding those options will be easier in some DEs than others.

Posted: **2025-01-15 00:50**

The KDE privacy settings don't work well and still leave some data saving on the desktop.

> You do realise that you can, quite easily, tell KDE not to save this, and it doesn't. I won't say what I think of Bleachbit.
> On the desktop? Where? Nothing is saved to my desktop other than what I specifically put there.
>That's rubbish. But there are similar options to KDE to not save some information.

In settings, KDE was set not to save my data. It didn't block everything, the data was still in recent files. DOING THIS over and over again, erase all data. Gnome did work. I set to don't save data. Nothing anywhere. Bleachbit cleans the rest. Also, there is user and admin mode. In admin mode, you can set it to ignore folders.

Gnome has better interface for me. KDE is gone. And that's the end...

Thanks to all for the help. Clicked on thumbs up buttons.

Some end notes:
Some kde apps, like kcalc, kmouth, and were still installed. KCalc worked.

kmouth appeared in discover but I couldn't find a way to launch it. So, I went to synaptic package manager. It wasn't installed. So, I installed it, kmouth works fine.

There were made for kde, but they still work in gnome. I'm I missing something??

Kmouth, I'm looking for other options, another frontend for debian. That's for another topic.

Posted: **2025-01-19 01:45**

Forgot this, there is other desktops like cinnamon i'm going to check out. So, far i've not had any more problems. FYI...

Posted: **2025-01-19 13:27**

Any installed apps "should" launch/ run via terminal...

Code: Select all

$ kmouth

Posted: **2025-01-19 17:10**

torran_serra wrote: 2025-01-09 08:04 Thanks to all for the responses. I need some time to properly examine all of them.

Privacy issues, read your history about how personal information can be abused. This also a security issue. No one has any right to your personal information without written permission.
Thanks to TOR browser which I use all the time. Plus, there are many offline and online encryption options I use. No further discussion, I'm switching and that's the end of that topic.

There is a debian desktop option?
[*] Debian desktop environment
[ ] GNOME
[ ] Xfce
[ ] KDE Plasma
[ ] Cinnamon
[ ] MATE
[ ] LXDE
[ ] LXQt

I selected kde, since it looked good in web searches.

Do you imagine that KDE is storing your personal information in the cloud? Use a strong password and full disk encryption if you're worried about the agents that sneak into homes late at night to hack into your machine to steal that stuff. I've seen those documentaries with Tom Cruise doing that!

Posted: **2025-01-24 07:09**

" What other choices? I've read many articles about privacy desktops for linux."

If you want total choice and control over what programs are installed on your box and the beauty of simplicity appeals to your eye, consider Fluxbox WM.

How_To set up Fluxbox from the default Debian Desktop Environment

viewtopic.php?t=152464

: Fluxbox, Baby; First_Bourne.jpg (36.48 KiB) Viewed 1887 times

Posted: **2025-01-24 07:39**

manyroads wrote: 2025-01-19 13:27 Any installed apps "should" launch/ run via terminal...
Code: Select all
$ kmouth

I hadn't thought of that. I'll keep that in mind for next time.

Some kde apps, like kcalc, kwallet, kmouth, etc. still work even when I uninstalled kde. They are KDE apps or just named k(app name)?

Debian User Forums

installing another desktop - remove kde

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