Questions about Lite, mainly Ubuntu privacy oriented

[Artim]

The minimal Ubuntu core that Jerry & Co. build from is as secure as any other core operating system.  Now add Xfce, and modify it extensively to run on very modest hardware yet retain it's "user-friendly" awesomeness, then selected applications, tools, etc. to make Linux Lite.  Any distro is only as secure as it's core and selected applications. 

None of the infamous stuff in Ubuntu appears in Linux Lite.  NONE.  The only issue with Ubuntu (and all of it's derivatives) in my opinion, are it's updates.  When their updates include beta (experimental) versions of critical software, that's just unforgivable in my opinion.  To make unwitting beta testers out of newcomers to Linux is just over the top.  I say they should save the beta stuff from the in-betweens, and not in the long-term-support versions of Ubuntu.

These updates are avoidable in distros with their own "filter," like the one available here for Linux Lite.  DISCLAIMER:  This is not approved by our lead developer and head of the Linux Lite project!  I, however, wouldn't use Linux Lite without the added safety margin of this wonderful little tool. 

Jerry's points about ethics and trust are important!  If security and such are your chief concerns, there are distros aimed specifically at users like you.  If you're new to Linux and looking for simplicity, a nice easy learning curve, and using modest hardware that can't handle the newer versions of Windows, it doesn't get any better than Linux Lite.