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Hackers compromised Linux Mint's install files (updated)
Some Linux fans just got a hard lesson about the importance of double-checking install files. The Linux Mint team is warning users that hackers compromised the ISO (drive image) downloads for 17.3 Cinnamon on February 20th, pointing people toward a modified version with a security backdoor. The intruders broke into the forums, too. You're safe if you grabbed Linux Mint through BitTorrent or a direct web link, and it's easy to both verify if you're affected and install a safe release. Still, the developers aren't taking any chances -- they're keeping the relevant server down until they know everything is in the clear. Update: You might not have to worry too much if you're a victim. Researchers don't believe the backdoor, an attempted botnet, actually works. Also, this was part of a one-off attempt at making a quick buck (a whopping $85) from selling the forum data, rather than some larger, more sinister scheme.
Warner Bros. cancels 'Batman: Arkham Knight' for Mac and Linux
Batman: Arkham Knight was one of the better big-budget games of last year -- but its launch on the PC was an unmitigated disaster. Warner Bros. had to pull the game from Steam and retailers and offer refunds to buyers because it was so hopelessly broken at launch, and even when the game came back it still had some problems. That checkered past makes today's news not entirely shocking: Warner Bros. has decided to cancel Arkham Knight for Mac and Linux gamers.
Time-twisting shooter 'Superhot' arrives on February 25th
The innovative, time-based shooter Superhot has had a long, unusual road to completion -- it started out as a clever idea at a game jam, got off the ground through a successful crowdfunding campaign and built up tremendous hype through pre-release copies and countless "let's play" videos. At last, though, it's nearly here. The team has revealed that Superhot will be available on Linux, Mac and Windows PCs on February 25th. You can pre-order it at $14 for the regular Steam version, and $25 if you'd also like the soundtrack and a PDF art book. Xbox One gamers can buy the game sometime in the next few weeks.
Chrome is now faster and more reliable on iOS
Google's Chrome browser has a loyal following on iOS, but it's certainly not for the speed or reliability -- it has long used a second-tier iOS web rendering engine (UIWebView) that isn't nearly as polished as what you get in Safari. At last, though, it's catching up. The latest iOS version of Chrome now uses a newer engine (WKWebView), giving it performance much closer to Apple's own browser -- it's "significantly" faster, particularly when it comes to JavaScript. You'll be glad to hear that it's much more stable, as well, with a crash rate that's a whopping 70 percent lower.
Edward Snowden's OS of choice gets a major update
If you still assume you don't forfeit the right to privacy by going online, there are very few truly secure OS options. The best one might be the Linux flavor called Tails, recommended by none other than Edward Snowden. Its encrypted apps include email and messaging clients, a web browser, and of course, the anonymizing Tor network.The folks behind the open-source program have just launched version 2.0, with a new UI and numerous security fixes.
Firefox gives you push notifications from websites
If you've wanted websites to push notifications whenever there's a big update, you've typically had to use a browser like Chrome or Safari. As of today, though, there's a third option: Mozilla has released Firefox 44, which brings push notifications to all desktop users. Grant a site permission and you'll get a heads-up whenever there's an important story or alert, whether or not a given site is open. It's arguably an overdue feature, but it's hard to knock having more choice.
Google denies Linux flaw is a serious Android security issue
Red Hat and security company Perception Point recently revealed a Linux flaw they say could affect servers, PCs and up to 66 percent of Android phones on the market. The vulnerability directly affects the OS's kernel, and could give attackers a way to gain code execution and take over a device, according to Perception Point. Google, however, fired back strongly at the claim, particularly because it wasn't given the usual window to address the flaw before it was publicly released. "Since this issue was released without prior notice to the Android Security Team, we are now investigating the claims ... [however,] we believe that the number of Android devices affected is significantly smaller than initially reported."
Ubuntu Linux tablet will turn into a makeshift desktop
Want to use your mobile device as a desktop, but would rather not go the Windows route? BQ might have just what you're looking for. The Spanish device maker is teasing the launch of an Ubuntu-based tablet that touts Convergence, a feature that turns your mobile Ubuntu gear into makeshift PCs. If you can scrounge up an external display, mouse and keyboard, you'll have your own little Linux workstation.
'Homefront: The Revolution' coming to the US on May 17th
After switching studios twice, Homefront: The Revolution will finally be released in North America on PC, Xbox One and Playstation 4 on May 17th, while Europe and other regions will get it on May 20th. If you're interested in an earlier look, a beta will arrive exclusively to consoles in February. The futuristic guerrilla shooter is the sequel to the original Homefront, and has the same Red Dawn-style premise of a foreign power (North Korea, of course) occupying the US. Unlike the original, however, the action takes place in an open world, namely dystopian Philadelphia in the year 2030.
Hackers get Linux running on a PlayStation 4
In the two years since the PlayStation 4 first went on sale, hackers have enjoyed limited success in their efforts to open up the console. In June, a Brazilian team claimed the first PS4 "jailbreak," which involved the cumbersome process of copying the entire hard drive of a hacked machine using a Raspberry Pi, but it took until this month for a tinkerer to fully circumvent Sony's content protections. With a proper exploit in the wild, homebrew group fail0verflow took on the challenge of installing a full version of Linux on the system. It achieved its goal this week, giving the homebrew community hope that the PlayStation 4 will soon become a worthy tool in their arsenal.
North Korea's version of Linux is extremely oppressive
It's no secret that North Korea has its own Linux distribution, Red Star OS, that limits you to a government-approved view of the world. However, researchers have just taken an in-depth look into how Red Star works -- and it's clear that software is as authoritarian as the country that created it. Besides its known tendency to watermark files on USB sticks (to track people shuttling contraband material), Red Star is paranoid about modifications. It not only has extra safeguards around key system files, but will immediately reboot the PC if it detects changes to those files.
Log into most any Linux system by hitting backspace 28 times
Security researchers have discovered a ludicrously simple way to hack into a number of Linux distributions: Just tap the backspace key 28 times in a row. A team from the Cybersecurity Group at Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) in Spain found that doing so for builds utilizing the ubiquitous Grub2 bootloader -- that's to say just about all of them -- immediately bypasses the lock screen, initiates the "Grub rescue shell" and grants the user access to the system for whatever nefarious things they have in mind.
'Don't Starve: Shipwrecked' lands on December 1st
So far, the cult hit Don't Starve has maintained a largely familiar (if decidedly weird) setting. There have been twists and turns, but you knew what you were getting into. Well, the developers at Klei have decided to shake things up a bit: they're launching Don't Starve: Shipwrecked, a seabound add-on, through Steam Early Access on December 1st. The company hasn't said much about what that entails beyond new biomes, characters and creatures, although one look at the teasers suggests that you might be grappling with everything from hungry fish to angry monkeys. Shipwrecked will only be available on Windows at first, but there are promises of Linux and Mac versions in the pipeline.
Dear Veronica: Picking your penguin
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-288875{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-288875, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-288875{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-288875").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Welcome back to another episode of Dear Veronica! This week, we have some great responses from you guys from our most recent "Question to the Crowd" from Tiyana. Watch to see how you guys think we should handle cross-timezone texting! Viewer David also has a question about which Linux distro is the best in terms of privacy and usability, and to answer that one we have Engadget editor Terrence O'Brien on give us the details. To wrap everything up, we have a Lightning Round! Make sure you keep sending on in those questions to me via Twitter using the hashtag #DearVeronica, or send me in a video question! See you next time.
Steam Machines are slower gaming systems than Windows PCs
The whole point of a Steam Machine is to get PC-like gaming in your living room, but do you actually get PC-like performance? Not so much, if you ask Ars Technica. It recently ran benchmarks comparing the performance of SteamOS and Windows 10 on the same hardware, and it's pretty clear that you're taking a speed hit in the name of couch-based convenience. The two operating systems are very close in synthetic tests, but SteamOS lags well behind Windows when it comes to real gameplay: depending on the game and your detail settings, you could be losing dozens of frames per second. All of the titles tested were still very playable on the modest test rig (a dual-core 3GHz Pentium with an old GeForce GTX 660), but this could pose a problem with more demanding titles in the future.
Firefox brings its tracking-resistant private browsing to everyone
Psst: the private browsing mode in your current web browser probably isn't that private. It'll (usually) get rid of your history and cookies, but it won't prevent cross-site trackers from getting a feel for what you're doing. However, you now have an easy way to deal with that -- Mozilla has released a finished version of Firefox with its promised stricter Private Browsing mode. Switch it on and you'll get tracking protection that blocks code from those ads and social services that follow you from site to site. There's also a central control panel on the desktop for managing privacy and security, including the option to turn tracking protection off if it's breaking an important page.
Malware turns hundreds of security cameras into a botnet
Closed-circuit security cameras are supposed to make you safer, but some malware is turning them into weapons. Researchers at Incapsula have discovered code that turned about 900 Linux-based CCTV cameras into a botnet, which promptly bombarded an unnamed "large cloud service" that serves millions of people. The intruders compromised cameras from multiple brands, all of which had lax out-of-the-box security -- in some cases, they'd been hacked by more than one person.
'Firewatch' reaches PC and PS4 on February 9th, 2016
Campo Santo's Firewatch has racked up its fair share of hype: its creators hail from venerable studios like Telltale and Double Fine, and it's based on the unusual premise of serving as a lookout in the Wyoming wilderness. If that sounds intriguing, you'll be glad to hear that it won't be much longer before you can try it yourself. The team has revealed that Firewatch will be available on Linux, Mac, Windows and PlayStation 4 on February 9th, 2016. There's still a lot to show about the game in the months ahead, but early reports are promising. It thrives on strong characterization (you play a middle-aged man retreating from a failing marriage), and it blends first-person exploration with the challenges of a classic adventure game. Hopefully, the finished title lives up to the early promise.
Security firm discovers Linux botnet that hits with 150 Gbps DDoS attacks
Akamai announced on Tuesday that its Security Intelligence Response Team has discovered a massive Linux-based botnet that's reportedly capable of downing websites under a torrent of DDoS traffic exceeding 150 Gbps. The botnet spreads via a Trojan variant dubbed XOR DDoS. This malware infects Linux systems via embedded devices like network routers then brute forces SSH access. Once the malware has Secure Shell credentials, it secretly downloads and installs the necessary botnet software, then connects the newly-infected computer to the rest of the hive.
Fly among beautiful floating islands hiding ancient secrets in 'Aer'
Aer is more gorgeous every time I see it. I first ran across it by accident: While waiting in a line at Gamescom 2013, I noticed Robin Hjelte, the game's creator, showing off a video on his tablet to a small, excited crowd. I peeked over his shoulder to see a beautiful pastel landscape with rolling green grass, adorable animals, and, at the center of it all, a young woman -- who suddenly transformed into a bird and soared off the land's edge, aiming for another tranquil island floating high in the sky. I gave Hjelte my card and told him to hit me up if he wanted to talk about the game. The following year at Gamescom, we sat down for a lovely chat. This year at E3, I finally got to play Aer (now with support from renowned German publisher Daedalic Entertainment), and the game sang in my hands as I flawlessly swapped between land and sky, and I wandered through dark, mysterious passageways with even darker secrets. Today, Daedalic and Hjelte's studio, Forgotten Key, released a brand new, infintely more gorgeous trailer for Aer, alongside confirmation that the game is coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Mac and Linux in 2016.
