NEWS

Ransomware Reaches Linux

The security firm Dr. Web warns of a new strain of ransomware attacks that is targeting Linux server systems. The attack, which is known as Linux.Encoder.1, is currently preying on web servers. Recent versions gain entry through a flaw in the Magento CMS, but the attack could be adapted to other vectors.

Linux has largely been free of the ransomware craze, in which the attacker encrypts the victim's data and demands a ransom to restore the files. With all the Linux servers on the web, however, experts consider it a matter of time before intruders find ways to exploit Linux users. According to a report in the Register, this attack encrypts the public_html, www, webapp, backup, .git, and .svn directory and asks for a payment of 1 Bitcoin to release the data.

The advice is the same as always: back up your data, and install security updates to minimize the possibility of intrusion.

More Online

Off the Beat * Bruce Byfield

Review: Digital Painting with Krita 2.9

The painting application Krita has been limping along for years with scattered and partial documentation. Consequently, Scott Petrovic's Digital Painting with Krita 2.9 is a welcome first step toward the kind of thorough documentation that it deserves.

Pi-Top and the Do-It-Yourself Feeling

I spent several days last week assembling a Pi-Top, the do-it-yourself laptop that runs on a Raspberry Pi. I have limited experience with hardware, so if a mistake could be made, I probably made it. In the end, I concluded that I have a defective battery, although I have been able to explore the assembled laptop thanks to the power cord. Yet, despite the ups and down and the anxiety, I found myself enjoying the experience in a way that I haven't enjoyed computing since I first discovered Linux.

Paw Prints * Jon "maddog" Hall

Raspberry Pie Zero: Just Chill a Bit

My friend Álvaro Justen recently showed me the announcement about the Raspberry PI Zero (hereafter just known as "Zero"), which is selling for $5, and is actually included for free in the MagPi magazine that sells in the UK. I take off my hat (again) to the Raspberry Pi people for creating such a computer at such a low price point, and although they have already manufactured "tens of thousands" of the units, in most cases the Zero was sold out "overnight" (or in some cases, even faster).

Productivity Sauce * Dmitri Popov

Putting Context Menus in Nautilus to Practical Uses

Dolphin is not the only file browser that makes it possible to add custom commands to the context menu. If you happen to use Nautilus as your preferred file browser, you can add commands by placing executable scripts in the ~/.local/share/nautilus/scripts/ directory. In addition to popular languages like Python and Perl, you can use good old Bash to write scripts.

Tame ThinkPad's Fan with thinkfan

Most Linux distributions run perfectly well on ThinkPad laptops right out of the box, save for a few minor annoyances. Fan control is one of them.

ADMIN Online

http://www.admin-magazine.com/

Application Virtualization with Docker * Thorsten Scherf

Half-lives of products are becoming shorter and shorter on today's virtualization market. This year, the buzz is all about Docker.

What's New in PostgreSQL 9.4 * Bernd Helmle

The PostgreSQL Global Development Group recently introduced the new major version 9.4 of the popular free database, which includes innovative functions as well as a whole range of changes regarding speed and functionality.

Innovations in PowerShell 5 * Thomas Wiefel

Windows 10 brings an updated, fifth release of PowerShell that vastly simplifies the task of managing modules and software packages. The scripting language now also handles various formatted output from commands and selection lists.

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