Cost of Windows, Bit by POODLE, and Torvalds on Torvalds
The big story today is POODLE, a web vulnerability bug that could affect Linux users. Mageia 5 Beta 1 is delayed again and Linux Mint gets an improved update manager. GNOME 3.14.1 and KDE 5.1 updates were released. Libby Clark has the best quotes from Linus at LinuxCon and Zorin OS 9 "Lite" is "one of the best LXDE spins of 2014."
POODLE seems to be the big headline grabber today and, of course, Open Source takes another on the chin. Our own Jon Buys runs down the specifics of the vulnerability and Paul Wagenseil has a guide to fix your browser. Whether on server or desktop the basic fix is to disable SSL 3.0 by enabling TLS 1.1 (and higher), but Tom's Guide gives the specifics for popular browsers. In related news, The Register says, "Never mind POODLE, there're NEW OpenSSL bugs to splat".
Libby Clark posted some of Torvalds best quotes during LinuxCon this year. During a talk with Intel's Dirk Hohndel, Torvalds says he regrets some of the language used on Kernel mailing list that has alienated some folks. To other questions Torvalds said he may have to get help to manage Linux someday and no one technical decision was so important to stand out as regrettable. See the full post at Linux.com.
In mixed Linux tidbits, Mageia 5 Beta 1 was due out yesterday, but a blocker bug in the installer is delaying it again for an undecided amount of time. Arindam Sen said of Zorin OS 9 Lite, "This is the best lightweight Linux experience I got in last 12 months or so of all the Linux distros I tried." Softpedia.com is reporting that an improved update manager is in store for Linux Mint users. And finally, "Munich sheds light on the cost of dropping Linux and returning to Windows"
.In other news:
* Plasma 5.1 Brings Back Many Popular Features
* Is Plasma 5 Ready For "Normal Users"?
* GNOME 3.14.1 is out
* Meritocracy: The Workplace Culture That Breeds Success (by Jim Whitehurst)