From Computer User: “Known provisionally as the ‘Smart Card Goes Online Web Authentication Server’
(SGO-WAS), the card-based technology is claimed to be unique in allowing
Internet-based providers of services access to active protection and control of
their content for the first time.”

“Computer Weekly’s news team logs off for a hard-earned break on
Friday 22 December. But as we’re hitting control-alt-delete, IT
professionals across the globe will be settling in for days of home
surfing – and some of you will actually be at work!

If you really must have a helping of IT business news with your
Turkey and stuffing, try these sites while we’re away. The usual rider
that we take no responsibility for their content applies.”

William Sterns at LinuxMonth writes: “It’s time to admit my guilt. 🙁 For someone who can write an article on why you shouldn’t be root, I’m still use it too much myself. Bit by bit, I’m finding ways to avoid it.

When I first had my own Linux system, I learned early that most of the system setup tasks I need to do had to be done as root. Isn’t it easier to log in as root and do all my work that way? It certainly was, and for a few months, I
did exactly that. The problem was that I didn’t know how to efficiently perform tasks as root without logging out and logging back in – ugh! Well, I’ve been using Linux for seven years and I’ve got a few techniques that I’d like to
share.”

William Sterns at LinuxMonth writes: “It’s time to admit my guilt. 🙁 For someone who can write an article on why you shouldn’t be root, I’m still use it too much myself. Bit by bit, I’m finding ways to avoid it.

When I first had my own Linux system, I learned early that most of the system setup tasks I need to do had to be done as root. Isn’t it easier to log in as root and do all my work that way? It certainly was, and for a few months, I
did exactly that. The problem was that I didn’t know how to efficiently perform tasks as root without logging out and logging back in – ugh! Well, I’ve been using Linux for seven years and I’ve got a few techniques that I’d like to
share.”

From OSOpinion: “One constant in the debate surrounding Open Source Software has
been the claim that Open Source Software has only a limited claim on
the heartstrings of software developers because most PC userland
software such as accounting packages, etc., is not as “sexy” as
compilers, etc. So they won’t be developed, or won’t develop quite as
fast as compilers, etc.”

Steven Levy, writer of the underground classic “Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution“, wrote a new book entitled “Crypto: When the Code Rebels Beat the Government –
Saving Privacy in the Digital Age”. The book will be available on Amazon.com on January 4th 2001. In association with the book publishers, you can win 2 copies of “Crypto” on the HNS web site. –LogError

LinuxMedNews.com has this Christmas greetings: From us (“the wishor”) to you (“hereinafter called the wishee”) Please accept without obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, politically correct, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all…and a financially successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2001, but with due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures or sects, and having regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform or dietary preference of the wishee. Author Unknown–Saint

LinuxMedNews.com has this Christmas greetings: From us (“the wishor”) to you (“hereinafter called the wishee”) Please accept without obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, politically correct, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all…and a financially successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2001, but with due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures or sects, and having regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform or dietary preference of the wishee. Author Unknown–Saint

Well, somebody seems to be enjoying ecommerce this year, specifically K-Mart, whose BlueLight.com site has seen over a 1000% increase since K-Mart used it to replace their original, basic KMart.com, according to this CNet story, anyway.

Continuation of a previous discussion at net-security.org about vulnerabilities in ssh and ssl and what you can do about them.