As we know, buying an older phone can be a big security risk, as it might not get updates anymore. How about laptops? i would install Linux on the laptop. Is it a security risk to buy a used and refurbished computer from maybe 2019?
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Older machines can be at risk from hardware flaws. But if your machine can run Windows 11, which most machines from 2019 can, you can safely use and install Linux on it. I recommend not buying a new machine that lacks official Windows 11 support even if you want to run Linux.
Age is only part of the equation. Older ones can be more secure but you have to go further back and think of more than just the hardware. The big thing is to try to get a laptop that is sold using a non stock BIOS or be comfortable doing the work yourself. Libreboot; Coreboot; or something like it. After that try to use as free as an OS as you can such as Trisquel; Guix; Hyperbola; etc. There are lots of stores that sell laptops that are more secure out of the gate:
https://puri.sm/products/librem-14/
https://configurelaptop.eu/nv40-series/
https://store.thonkpeasant.xyz/
https://store.vikings.net/en/?route=common%2Fhome
Basically a computer is only as secure as you are willing to make it. You are limited by the hardware but you choose the hardware so you’re only really limited by yourself.
This article shows why your proposals are not secure at all:
Your article neither lists what it deems as good alternatives to Linux; nor does it specifically say that what advice I gave was bad. It also lists people at the end as credible views of which half work for Google. Overall I don’t view your article as able to be trustworthy or really changes any views I have.
