Fedora Does Real World Work. Debian is for Hobbyists

It's interesting to watch the pace of change with Linux on the Desktop. Want technology on the leading edge?  Fedora is here today with best of breed solutions, all of which merge to Red Hat Enterprise Linux, the largest commercial Linux Distribution in the World. Fedora was first to implement systemd. Fedora is first with a robust implementation of state of the art technologies including rpm-ostree and Docker on their Project Atomic...

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Merry Christmas

Currier and Ives Winter (Image credit: familychristmasonline.com) Merry Christmas Folks.  -- Dietrich The Bible Story of Christm...

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What Difference Does it Make if I Use Chrome vs. Firefox?

Free Mozilla Firefox Open Source Web Browser What difference does it make if I use Chrome vs. Firefox? Transparency: Transparency, as used in science, engineering, business, the humanities and in a social context more generally, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Transparency is operating in such a way that it is easy for others to see what actions are performed. It has been defined simply as "the perceived quality of...

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Using Extensible Blockchain to Sign Digital Documents and Copyrighted Materials

It should be apparent to anyone who has watched the progress of Bitcoin that it behaves as a virtual commodity.  It also is fungible in that one Bitcoin can be exchanged for an equal quantity anywhere in the World. The success of bitcoin comes from its Blockchain software design. Every Bitcoin has a unique signature that follows it through its travels from one Wallet to another.  That 'fingerprint' never goes away and remains an indelible ...

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Do Smartwatches Make You Stupid?

Smartwatches (Image credit: theregister.co.uk) The implied advertisement subliminal message:  "You need this.  You can't live without it." The newest wave of technology apparatus has reached American soil.  Among the many offerings now comes Smartwatches. Yes, they not only look smart, but, they are smart in the sense of having none other than a built in computer -- literally. I don't know about you, but when I come home, at...

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Your Browser: A General Purpose Remote Code Execution Tool

Google Chrome web browser security warning message I've been reviewing the current state of Internet Privacy. It's still a mixed bag and my conclusion is that it will remain so for quite some time. Efforts to provide Internet Privacy are varied, depending on which ISP is employed. The primary means for conveyance to a target website to do any kind of task is the web browser. To put security risk into context, the web browser is a remote...

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Kim DotCom Facing Down a Death Sentence Without a Trial

Kim Schmitz aka Kim DotCom Many of the readers of this story know of Kim Schmitz aka Kim DotCom.  It's a mix of either great respect or contempt depending on what is understood about him. There is an untold story about him that needs to be recorded as to what happened to his MegaUpload website. MegaUpload was a popular file sharing website up to a few years ago when it was summarily ordered to be taken down by the U.S. Federal Government. As...

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Linux Turla Malware Infection? Not Going to Happen.

cdoor.c - packet coded backdoor (credit: phenolit.de) C'mon.  Here is yet another sensational report 'wishing' that Linux is infection prone.  It isn't okay? The SecureList authors imply that there is a Linux version of a known Windows malware, called Turla.  Conveniently, they call it a variant. Where is the documentation for a Linux 'vector of infection'?  Oops, somehow, they forgot to include it. Including the source...

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Linux Distro Survey 2014

Final Results of Linux Distro Survey 2014 [Edit: Linux Distro Survey 2014 is closed.  See summary above. Details can be obtained by clicking the the 'View results' link below.] So, okay, it's been a while since I did a survey.  You know the drill.  Time to pick your brain.   What is your favorite Linux Distribution?  [View results...

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ALERT: A Software Security Transparency Breach Warning

(Image credit:  Wikipedia.org) We've witnessed what happens when changes in source code to intentionally insert rogue code go unnoticed. The example of how the NSA intentionally inserted weakened string constants into Elliptic Curve Cryptography lay hidden for several years, in fact, and was only exposed by a languishing open Red Hat trouble ticket.  What was odd was how given the potential seriousness of the incident, no action was...

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December 9, 2014: The Day Desktop Computing Got Fun Again

Remember when Desktop Computing was fun? The early days of Ubuntu were a time when GNOME really had things going for it.  Then, one Mark Shuttleworth took the product in another direction.  Unity. Unity was initially interesting but didn't fit usability and that began the period of when I didn't like what I saw happening to Ubuntu. During that period, The GNOME Foundation was undergoing its own change.  GNOME 2.x was determined...

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Lions, Tigers, Bears, and FBI Warnings, Oh My!

Wizard of Oz Movie (Image credit: prairiecloudware.com) Seriously, do you tire of seeing major news plastered with warnings about cyber attacks, malware and viruses? It really has grown to a fever pitch lately. What stuck in my craw today was a Bloomberg report Exclusive: FBI warns of 'destructive' malware attack in the wake of the SONY attack. Like, I should be mortified maybe?  Do these 'brainiacs' remember StuxNet? Would it help...

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MegaSync Your Cloud Data for True Internet Privacy

MegaSync Client for Linux with GNOME Nautilus 'Drag Drop' Support shown on my Fedora 21 Workstation Desktop Strong Encryption is the only choice to secure the Public's Internet Privacy against unwarranted access. I really don't know how to make that message any more clear. You see, ISPs are going to 'feather their own nests' as we bear witness to changing Terms of Service with Google and most recently at Facebook. Personally, I could...

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Debian Forks as Stormy Seas Lie Ahead.

Johannes Hermanus Koekkoek - Sailing the Stormy Seas (Image credit: imagehere.com) Seriously, I think some people just have self-destructive personalities. Such is the case for Debian, where a few souls have foolishly convinced themselves that a Fork is necessary. For what, exactly? I submit the big unspoken reason is 'work avoidance'. It would seem, the majority of major Distros have had no difficulty merging systemd and there are no reports...

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Fedora How-To: End Unresponsive Applications with Xkill

There are times when I miss KDE, like, when an application suddenly freezes up for no apparent reason. I wait and try to close the window clicking on the close [x] glyph.  Tap fingers.... Still nothing.  "Sweet Lord.  Please make it stop!", I mutter. Then I remember that pressing ctrl-alt-Esc would work in KDE to kill an unresponsive application.  Yes!  (Slaps forehead)  That's it. Presses ctrl-alt-Esc.  ...

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Customize Fedora's Out-of-the-Box Experience

My Fedora 21 Workstation - Customized As if I need to tell you, I am 100% behind Fedora.  Those looking for a story on their 'other' Distro can turn away now. There's nothing wrong with being selective and wanting the best of everything life has to offer, yes? So, when it comes to Linux on the Desktop, I have put Fedora at the top of my list.  I'll show you my personal configuration and yes it is running remarkably well on my trusty...

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