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Linux looms large on the high end

Author: JT Smith

TechWeb.com has a package of stories. “The most important Linux trend this year isn’t Linux on the desktop, Linux dot-bombs, or even
Linux in thousands of servers in enterprises around the world. It’s Linux in mainframes, cluster
computing, and supercomputers.”

Category:

  • Linux

MS admits IE security lapse

Author: JT Smith

From ZDNet UK: “Microsoft has admitted that it knew about a security hole in Internet Explorer (IE) a full
week before it accused a security firm of acting irresponsibly for publicly disclosing details
of the exploit.”

Category:

  • Linux

OpenSSH 3.0.1 released

Author: JT Smith

Posted at LWN.net: OpenSSH 3.0.1 has just been released. It will be available from the
mirrors listed at http://www.openssh.com/ shortly.

OpenSSH is a 100% complete SSH protocol version 1.3, 1.5 and 2.0
implementation and includes sftp client and server support.

Conectiva Linux: imp update

Author: JT Smith

From Net-Secuirty.org: “Joao Pedro Goncalves reported a vulnerability in the
Imp webmail system which could be used by a remote
attacker to access a victim’s email.

It is possible to include a script in an URL via html
tags. Since these tags are not treated appropriately in
previous versions (

Category:

  • Linux

Softmodem code bounty stands at $20,000

Author: JT Smith

Slashdotters discuss this announcement: “I’ve announced a bounty for completion of
softmodem code (20k$) on linmodems-discuss list. If this is
successfully completed, we’ll have a completely universal driver
for any kind of winmodem without any proprietary code which result in all sorts of
kernel version problems.”

Category:

  • Open Source

HP sacrifices Linux handhelds

Author: JT Smith

ZDNet UK reports that a “source” is saying Hewlett-Packard’s planned three low-end Linux
handhelds, including a wireless device,
have been sacrificed in a recent round of layoffs.

Category:

  • Linux

New Website launches desktop Linux revolution

Author: JT Smith

Anonymous Reader writes: “DeviceForge LLC today announced the launch of DesktopLinux.com — the first website exclusively devoted to the use of Linux as a desktop operating system for personal and business purposes. The site features news, opinions, HOWTOs, FAQs, product previews/reviews, product listings, a discussion forum, and links to other web resources, all focused on using — or learning to use — Linux as a desktop operating system.”

FSF Europe announcement: “We speak about Free Software”

Author: JT Smith

“There are compelling reasons to think and speak about Free Software
and its philosophy. It is rather common knowledge this applies to
society as a whole, but it has not yet been widely understood
that it benefits companies, as well. Therefore the FSF Europe
launches this campaign on behalf and with support of several Free
Software companies.”

"We speak about Free Software"

Free Software is often referred to as "Open Source." This is a result
of an attempt by the Open Source Initiative (OSI) to create a
marketing campaign for Free Software.

The OSI set out to maintain the integrity of the movement and prevent
abuse by proprietary vendors by introducing "Open Source" as a
trademark for Free Software; but this initiative failed.

Examining the development of the Open Source Initative after three
years, it becomes apparent that the reasons to prefer the term Free
Software have become even more true. Speaking of Free Software or the
equivalent term in other languages offers many advantages, which we
explain below.


"Free Software" is easier to understand

Although some people say that using the term "free" creates ambiguity,
many languages have separate terms referring to freedom and price. In
these languages, the term "free" is not ambiguous. It may be in
others, including English, but in those misunderstandings can easily
be avoided by pointing out that free refers to freedom, not price.

The terminology "Open Source" refers to having access to the source
code. But access to the source code is only a precondition for two of
the four freedoms that define Free Software. Many people do not
understand that access to the source code alone is not enough. "Free
Software" avoids catering to this relatively common misunderstanding.


Free Software is harder to abuse

Unfortunately many companies have started calling their products "Open
Source" if at least some parts of the source code can be seen. Users
buy this software believing they are purchasing something "as good as
GNU/Linux" because it claims to follow the same principle.

We should not allow proprietary vendors to abuse peoples enthusiasm
like this. Since the "Open Source" trademarking initiative failed,
there is no way to prevent abuse of the term that becomes possible
because of the aforementioned misunderstanding.


Free Software is well-defined

Experience in science and philosophy has shown that a good and clear
definition is to be preferred.

The Free Software Definition of the Free Software Foundation with its
four freedoms is the clearest definition existing today.


Free Software provides additional value

Unlike Open Source, Free Software provides more than just a technical
model how to develop better software, it provides a
philosophy. Companies can learn and profit from the philosophy and
background of Free Software.


Free Software offers freedom

Free Software provides the freedoms to
 - run the program, for any purpose.
 - study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs.
 - redistribute copies.
 - improve the program, and release your improvements to the public,
   so that the whole community benefits. 


Because of these four freedoms, Free Software offers freedom to learn,
freedom to teach, freedom of competition, freedom of speech and
freedom of choice.

Freedom counts!


For all these reasons we made the conscious decision to avoid the term
Open Source and speak of Free Software or the equivalent term in other
languages.

We encourage you to make the same decision.


An initative of the
Free Software Foundation Europe


We speak about Free Software:

 Alcôve      - http://www.alcove.com
 Intevation  - http://intevation.net/
 Lolix       - http://fr.lolix.org/
 Bytewise
 Easter-Eggs - http://www.easter-eggs.com
 Prosa srl   - http://www.prosa.it/
 Icube
 Luminas Ltd



If your company also speaks about Free Software and would like to be
listed , please send mail to web@fsfeurope.org and let us know. Also
you can support the initiative by linking to

    http://fsfeurope.org/documents/whyfs.en.html

Apple tries to woo Windows defectors

Author: JT Smith

CNET: “There are lots of Windows users who used to own a Mac,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s vice
president of worldwide marketing. “We’re starting to see a combination of things getting those
customers interested in our platform again.”

Linux Security Week – November 19th 2001

Author: JT Smith

LinuxSecurity: “This week, perhaps the most interesting articles include “On the Security of PHP,” “Brute-Forcing Web Session IDs,” and “Public
Key Infrastructure Nuts and Bolts.” Also this week, vsftpd-1.0.0 was released.”

Category:

  • Linux