Showing headlines posted by Scott_Ruecker

Critics claim that some certificate authorities fail to check the identity of applicants because they prefer revenues over rigid security. The Extended Validation SSL certificates will introduce a more stringent vetting process, including verification of the applicant's physical existence.

System builders considering a Linux desktop are faced with a dizzying array of choices. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of Linux distributions to choose from. Narrowing the field of contenders basically comes down to what works best for both the system builder and its customers.

I've been programming since a young age, and Linux has always seemed like a natural progression, especially as my development environment is PHP/MySQL/Apache. A while ago, this was all done on a Red Hat installed system, using the “Plesk” web interface. Although I spent quite a few hours at the console sorting out problems, Plesk hid the real nitty gritty from me and I was often just following “How Tos” in order to get things fixed. In saying that, I did manage to write a wrapper script that fixed a compatibility between MailMan and Plesk, so I wasn't doing too badly.

The latest version of the popular Cryptlib security toolkit has been released. Cryptlib 3.3 is the first open-source software development toolkit to support the TLS-PSK standard. By building strong mutual authentication into the existing TLS process, TLS-PSK provides a high level of security against phishing attacks that existing HTTP and TLS solutions can't provide.

Today I stumbled across a gem of an online music service, http://www.magnatune.com... preview and buy music that appears to be unencumbered by DRM... Think we can rouse the geek world behind this "Open Music" service?

IBM announced the System Storage DS4700 Express Models 70-DC and 72-DC, which are compliant with the Network Equipment Building System (NEBS) Level 3 "hardening" requirements originally designed for the telecommunications industry. Products can be either NEBS certified or NEBS compliant, the distinction being that the former have been submitted to an independent lab for formal testing and the latter have not.

Ubuntu developers and other interested parties from all over the world have swarmed to Google's offices in Mountain View this week for the Ubuntu Developer Summit (UDS) to plan out the next release of Ubuntu.

Bug stampout list November 10, 2006

If users look beyond the splash screens and other branding, they will find almost nothing in the recently announced GNewSense distribution that is not already available in the Ubuntu Dapper Drake release. In fact, according to Brian Brazil and Paul O'Malley, the Irish free software advocates behind the distribution, users may find that GNewSense detects less of their hardware than Ubuntu does -- particularly their wireless cards. So why would anyone use GNewSense?

Although it is neither seen nor touched by a user, flash file system software is integral to the basic functionality of a mobile phone. This important embedded software component ensures that data can be written to the storage media, accessed by the user, and read on demand.

Ledger is a command-line accounting application for the hardcore financial professional. If you're an MBA who groks Emacs and regular expressions, or a kernel hacker who appreciates tax deferred accruals, you'll love this application.

Vista doesn't need anti-viral software? That's what Jim Allchin, co-president of Microsoft's platforms and services division, said in a recent phone conference on Vista's release to manufacturing (RTM).

Open-source software vendors are prodding Congress to define some legal standards to support the development and deployment of such software. The vendors, which have formed the nonprofit Open Source Initiative (OSI), are most concerned about the legal definition of open-source software. Traditionally, such vendors provide full access to the source code of their applications, allowing others to study, change and redistribute the software on their own.

Is open-source software making an impact in small and medium-sized enterprises? That depends on whom you ask. Open-source developers and service providers will sing the praises of software that is not only free but also frees you from many long-established commercial restraints.

Sun Microsystems has extended certification for the Ubuntu Linux distribution to its Opteron-based servers. Canonical, the distribution's commercial sponsor, will bundle Sun's open source GlassFish application server for Java Enterprise Edition 5 that is due out later this year.

Guardian Digital on Tuesday introduced the latest version of EnGarde Secure Linux, Community 3.0.10. It features a 2.6.17 kernel, the new SELinux Control Console, and the context-sensitive Guardian Digital help system, along with bug fixes and upgrades to major applications, team spokesman Ryan W. Maple said.

One of the world's largest fabless semiconductor vendors has entered the market for ARM-based application processors. Broadcom's BCM2820, now sampling, weds a 300MHz ARM11 core with a 150MHz "VideoCore" graphics processor. It targets high-volume consumer products, and "fully supports Linux today," Broadcom says.

In this episode: new logo submissions; taking a short break at the end of the year; O’Reilly’s LPI Linux Certification in a Nutshell, Second Edition; a discussion of cron and crontab (additional resources here, here, and here); a Listener Tip on clearing Bash history; listener feedback.

IBM today announced that the Native American Family Technology Journey, co-sponsored by IBM and Career Communications Group, will kick off its third national public awareness program to help Native American families explore the benefits of incorporating computer technology into their daily lives. The program, known as "The Journey," promotes the value of computer technology in preserving ancient cultures and also provides students and their families with technology training that allows them to access educational, career, health and other information, that has the potential to improve their quality of life. The Journey is officially celebrated during the month of November, and coincides with National American Indian Heritage Month.

In the last seven years, printing on Linux has undergone a metamorphosis. Barely adequate printing support, provided on a program by program basis, has been transmuted by a half dozen projects into a wealth of options comparable to those available on Windows or the Mac OS. Where printer manufacturers once ignored Linux, a growing number support it and the rest are watching closely. Standardization and support for multiple distributions remain major problems, but community and corporate interests have recently started working together to address these last remaining problems.