August 2013 - wlug - list.wlug.org.nz

Hand of a Thief Linux Malware Goes for the Money
by Peter Reutemann 30 Aug '13

30 Aug '13

'One of the top reasons for choosing Linux, according to many users, is enhanced security. In particular, if you have spent much time using Windows PCs, you're familiar with the fact that Windows is the primary target for malware worldwide. Linux, on the other hand, is rarely targeted by virus writers and hackers. However, according to the Avast blog, a new Linux Trojan dubbed "Hand of a Thief" is actually targeting Linux users' bank accounts.' -- source: http://ostatic.com/blog/hand-of-a-thief-linux-malware-goes-for-the-money Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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X.Org Foundation Loses 501(c)3 Non-Profit Status
by Peter Reutemann 27 Aug '13

27 Aug '13

"The X.Org Foundation, which drives the X.Org Server projects, Mesa, and Wayland open-source programs, had its tax-exempt status revoked by the IRS. It turns out the X.Org Foundation had put in quite a lot of work to become a non-profit organization, with guidance from the Software Freedom Law Center. They got in trouble after failing to routinely file their taxes on time. There's also been a host of other X.Org accounting errors in recent years. There was also the recent news of the IRS going after open-source projects, too." -- source: http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/08/27/1244247 Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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Has the Apache Software Foundation Lost Its Way?
by Peter Reutemann 26 Aug '13

26 Aug '13

"Complaints of stricture over structure, signs of technical prowess on the wane — the best days of the Apache Software Foundation may be behind, writes InfoWorld's Serdar Yegalulp. 'Since its inception, the Apache Software Foundation has had a profound impact in shaping the open source movement and the tech industry at large. ... But tensions within the ASF and grumbling throughout the open source community have called into question whether the Apache Way is well suited to sponsoring the development of open source projects in today's software world. Changing attitudes toward open source licensing, conflicts with the GPL, concerns about technical innovation under the Way, fallout from the foundation's handling of specific projects in recent years — the ASF may soon find itself passed over by the kinds of projects that have helped make it such a central fixture in open source, thanks in some measure to the way the new wave of bootstrapped, decentralized projects on GitHub don't require a foundation-like atmosphere to keep them vibrant or relevant.' Meanwhile, Andrew C. Oliver offers a personal perspective on his work with Apache, why he left, and how the foundation can revamp itself in the coming years: 'I could never regret my time at Apache. I owe it my career to some degree. It isn't how I would choose to develop software again, because my interests and my role in the world have changed. That said, I think the long-term health of the organization requires it get back to its ideals, open up its private lists, and let sunshine disinfect the interests. My poorly articulated reasons for leaving a long time ago stemmed from my inability to effect that change.'" -- source: http://apache.slashdot.org/story/13/08/26/210200/has-the-apache-software-fo… Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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WLUG meeting tonight
by Peter Reutemann 26 Aug '13

26 Aug '13

Hi everyone There is a wlug meeting tonight: http://www.wlug.org.nz/event_calendar/view/737/meeting With a committee meeting beforehand at 6.30pm: http://www.wlug.org.nz/event_calendar/view/3080/committee-meeting Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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GNOME 3.10 Will Bring New Map App
by Peter Reutemann 25 Aug '13

25 Aug '13

'Woohoo, our old friend Matthias Clasen, GNOME developer extraordinaire, has posted some new screenshots to show the new features coming in GNOME 3.10. He says, "we're already at the beta – I've just released 3.9.90, which is the first beta release. High time to show some of the nice new things that will come in GNOME 3.10."' -- source: http://ostatic.com/blog/gnome-3-10-will-bring-new-map-app Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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As Ubuntu Stumbles, Firefox OS Rolls On
by Peter Reutemann 23 Aug '13

23 Aug '13

"The Ubuntu Edge smartphone today failed by about $19 million to make its $30 million Indiegogo funding goals, and the roughly 20,000 investors will receive refunds. Earlier this week, the first Firefox OS phone available in the U.S. and U.K. -- the unlocked version of the low-end, 3.5-inch ZTE Open handset – sold out on eBay in three days." -- source: http://www.linux.com/news/embedded-mobile/mobile-linux/734705 Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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CoreOS: Building the Cloud from a Garage
by Peter Reutemann 22 Aug '13

22 Aug '13

"Wired posted an article yesterday profiling the creators of CoreOS, a minimal Linux server OS built from the combination of Docker and Google's ChromeOS. I have been complaining for a long time that server installs were too bloated, and even though the minimal installs have taken care of much of that, the CoreOS project looks like they strip it down even more. Alex Polvi and his team are building a new, open way to build a datacenter that should have other commercial datacenter vendors worried. " -- source: http://ostatic.com/blog/coreos-building-the-cloud-from-a-garage Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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Install an Open Source Dropbox Alternative on Linux in 10 Steps
by Peter Reutemann 22 Aug '13

22 Aug '13

"Dropbox has made its mark as an integral productivity tool. Simple file sharing and syncing makes it easy to keep all your important documents and files on hand, wherever you are. If you're anything like me, you've hit the space limit of your free Dropbox account, and wondered if the Open Source world has any alternatives. Good news! Sparkleshare has you covered. Combined with a Bitbucket account and a little effort, you can have practically unlimited storage, for free!" -- source: http://www.linux.com/learn/tutorials/734125-how-to-install-sparkleshare-you… Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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wlug meeting next Monday
by Peter Reutemann 19 Aug '13

19 Aug '13

Hi everyone There is a wlug meeting coming up next week on Monday: http://www.wlug.org.nz/event_calendar/view/737/meeting With a committee meeting beforehand: http://www.wlug.org.nz/event_calendar/view/3080/committee-meeting Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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Canonical Is Shutting Down Ubuntu Friendly
by Peter Reutemann 16 Aug '13

16 Aug '13

"Canonical is going to finally shutdown Ubuntu Friendly, their community approach for users to share with other Ubuntu users how well their laptops/desktops work with the Linux distribution. " -- source: http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTQzNzI Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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