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As a result of articles referring to the threat of Worms and Viruses attacking Linux systems, many new Linux users are in a panic. They are running around wildly, weaping to their mothers for help... or maybe not? I find very few new users who are either panic stricken regarding worms & viruses or for that matter even concerned. The few beginners who've asked me about the need and options tend to be curious rather than consumed by FUD related materials.

To help them out and calm any panic stricken nerves, I've completed a brief, encouraging and straightup list for protecting your Linux home system. Obviously, if you're using a Linux server in a business environment you'll need to go beyond some of these tips.

By the end of this tutorial, you will be comfortable using commands on a Linux system. The tutorial is organized according to the specific objectives of the LPI exam for this topic. If you're studying for certification -- or simply building a solid foundation in Linux systems administration -- you will be ready to proceed to the next tutorial in this series.

[Ed: - Security Innovation is so 'independent', it is a professional services provider for Microsoft. Though the Press release says the study can be found at MS' Get the Facts page, I couldn't find it. -hkwint]
[Ed. - UPDATE: The study is here. - hkwint ]

Today at the IT Forum 2005 event in Barcelona, Spain, Microsoft announced findings from a report it commissioned from Security Innovation, a leading independent provider of application security services, which concluded that as requirements evolved over time, the Microsoft Windows platform was more consistent, predictable and easier to manage than Linux.

Related Story:
Linux News Questions Microsoft's Need for a "Get the Facts" campaign?

Technology vendors and open source community align to set standards for Snort rules, ensuring consistent protection throughout the industry...

Even as Microsoft readies a host of new ad-supported online services to battle rivals, the software maker has been mulling a plan to offer free, ad-supported versions of some of its desktop products, CNET News.com has learned.

Although no specific plans have been made, executives within Microsoft are examining whether it makes sense to release ad-supported versions of products such as Works, Money, or even the Windows operating system itself, according to internal documents seen by CNET News.com.

The chief executive of the Open Source Development Labs (ODSL) has said that the threat facing Linux from software patent-infringement claims has receded.

LXer Feature

Let's face it. deploying computer technology in non-profit organizations can be a real challenge, especially if you don't have a bunch of tech geeks on staff. Well, meet the organizations that will show you how libre software can help you accomplish your mission without having to re-allocate your operational funds to your IT budget. These organizations can guide you from planning to implementation.

Diggable

Many years ago, while directing IT operations for a small company on the West Coast, I became aware that our network security was particularly weak. The company was growing at a rapid pace, IT was understaffed, the network was at capacity in a number of ways, and the demands were brutal both in terms of time and technology needs. While I didn't mind the long hours, I did mind that I didn't feel "up to snuff" in terms of selecting technologies that would enable us to expand the network and secure it. I had responsibility for IT and security, but I felt that there were holes in my knowledge. I wanted to fix that. So began my quest to become an information security professional.

From the would-you-just-get-a-room dept:

Within days of the launch of Apple's new video iPod, companies were rushing to deliver content ranging from mild to shocking.

"We think the growth of viewing adult content on iPod devices will be explosive in the coming months," said Harvey Kaplan of Xobile.com, which describes itself as "the leading provider of adult movies for mobile phones."

Ubuntu Linux patrons will notice a new installation option in the boot menu of the current 5.10 Breezy Badger release: OEM mode.

LXer Day Desk: 11-16-2005

If Microsoft offers a superior product to Linux then why would they need a "Get the Facts" campaign? Over the years, the Redmond computer technology firm has learned that buyers make decisions based on who else uses a product. They know executives will say to themselves, if Rayovac uses it, then it must be good enough.

So what do you see? Just about any time a major publication runs a story about Linux, Microsoft gets them to place a "Get the Facts" advertisements nearby and often right in the middle of the story. That seems pretty suspect to me.

Do you ever wonder if publications run Linux stories just to garner Microsoft's ad money? Or have you considered that desperate times call for desperate measures? It makes me wonder.

Diggable

Several Christian Ministers and laymen from across the US and Britain have spoken out against Microsoft's refusal to support OpenDocument, thus leaving visually-impaired users of their office suite effectively unable to use the new standard adopted by Massachusetts. The Christians see Microsoft's stance as intentionally withholding support so that it can turn a technical business decision into a political fight. By refusing to support OpenDocument, Microsoft is ignoring the cross-platform document sharing needs of visually impaired users, not only in Massachusetts, but also in the other 49 states, not to mention the rest of the world. The economically disadvantaged will also suffer from the lack of Opendocument support in Microsoft Office.

Diggable

"Too many of these companies (now forming) are being funded without a community," said Matrix Partners' David Skok in the story. "If a community doesn't form and form fast, then they're going to burn through their venture capital, and they're going to be disasters."

The final release version of FireFox 1.5 is expected today. New features in version 1.5 includes support for SVG, Canvas, CSS3 Columns, Javascript 1.6;

Linux has firmly stamped its authority on the supercomputing sector. The latest report from Top500, which releases a bi-annual report of the fastest computers in the world, shows Linux increasing its market share in this segment from 51.8% six months ago to 74.4%.

A gaggle of new threats that target computers running the Linux and Unix operating systems appears on the Internet.

Anti-virus companies and The SANS Institute's Internet Storm Center advised network administrators to be on the lookout for Internet-borne attacks that target a vulnerability in a common component known as XML-RPC (Remote Procedure Call) for PHP.

Red Hat is listed among ZDNet Asia's 50 Top Tech companies 2006. It is also one of the fastest growing companies with 210.4% year on year income growth over 4 years.

An ambitious new Google Inc. service will let anyone upload most anything to a publicly searchable database, potentially laying the groundwork for a foray by the Internet juggernaut into classified advertising.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Penguin Computing today unveiled the Penguin Application-Ready Cluster(TM) Portfolio, a new line of integrated hardware/software Linux-based cluster systems that provides greater productivity and efficiency in high performance computing (HPC) and commercial data center environments. The pre-configured, pre-tested Application-Ready Cluster Portfolio reduces time to deployment and eliminates the need for many traditional cluster end user and system administration tasks, making clustered computing dramatically simpler and more efficient.

In Cambridge, Mass., Nicholas Negroponte and his team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have been chipping away at a long-held dream: producing a laptop so cheap that governments could afford to link every child in the world to the Internet.