New guy here; having USB boot trouble.

[Werner P. Schulz]

Is it safe to use it as a primary OS in a home environment? Is it at least as safe as Ubuntu?

No!

Knoppix is designed as a Live System. There is no possibility for updates, especially security updates. Only very experienced users will find a way to do this.

[utu]

No!

Knoppix is designed as a Live System. There is no possibility for updates, especially security updates. Only very experienced users will find a way to do this.

Greetings, Werner.

I respect your expertise in this matter, but I don't find your answer to be
very informative. It would help those of us less well-educated in IT to
understand in several specific ways just why a Knoppix LiveUSB is not a good
idea as one's main OS.

I, for one, have several Windows editions, but I use a late model Knoppix
LiveUSB most of the time. I have for several years without any known calamity.
In what specific ways am I at risk?

There might be something specific that would make me want to go to all the
trouble of dealing with an installed Linux. Been there, done that. Don't
know specifically why it would be worth my effort in the LiveUSB era.

Please elucidate, and be kind to those of us less well-educated.

Respectfully.

[Werner P. Schulz]

No security updates == no security

This doesn't depend on using Windows or one of the Linux distributions.

[utu]

@ Werner

I would expect Klaus K to know if Knoppix, as it it presented
for download, has a security problem that needs attention and
would either correct this or make his community aware of such
a situation.

Any distibution may develop security flaws though improper use.
It might due to remind new users about improper usage or
changes to Knoppix that might create security hazards that
are not inherent in the initial distribution.

[Werner P. Schulz]

I would expect Klaus K to know if Knoppix, as it it presented
for download, has a security problem that needs attention and
would either correct this or make his community aware of such
a situation.

Have a look at security considerations.