replicant108 - Slashdot User

Submission + - Biometrics no cure for data loss

Submitted by replicant108 on Tuesday November 27, 2007 @09:59AM

replicant108 writes: Six leading British academics have written to express their concerns at claims that biometrics could somehow magically cure data security issues — recently highlighted by the loss off 25m personal records by the British government. The letter states: "These assertions are based on a fairy-tale view of the capabilities of the technology and in addition, only deal with one aspect of the problems that this type of data breach causes." The full letter is available here.

Submission + - Microsoft involved in patent case against RedHat ?

Submitted by Hymer on Sunday October 21, 2007 @04:06PM

Hymer writes: Groklaw has some interesting info about the patent case against RedHat and Novell. It seems that Microsoft may be involved... big surprise.

Submission + - Michael Dell says Linux server sales are up (silicon.com)

Submitted by

00_NOP

on Monday October 15, 2007 @05:03AM

00_NOP writes: "Linux is growing faster in the server space than Windows says the Dell CEO:

"On the server side Linux continues to grow nicely, a bit faster than Windows. We're seeing a move to Linux in critical applications, and Linux migration has not slowed down."

With Netcraft statistics in recent months showing a big increase in Windows as a webserver and with the renewed assault on Linux's legitimacy over the issue of software patents — not a problem for those of us in Europe ;-) — this is reassuring news for FOSS advocates."

Submission + - Microsoft Declares Old File Formats "Less Secu

Submitted by Nail on Monday October 08, 2007 @02:09PM

Nail writes: In the KB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/938810

Microsoft's web site states:

"After you install Office 2003 SP3, some Microsoft Office Excel 2003, Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003, Microsoft Office Word 2003, and Corel Draw (.cdr) file formats are blocked. By default, these file formats are blocked because they are less secure. They may pose a risk to you."

I think they MEAN to say that Microsoft Office 2003 cannot open these old file formats in a secure way, but I don't work for them, so it is difficult for me to say.

Submission + - Out With E-Voting, In With M-Voting (baltictimes.com)

Submitted by

InternetVoting

on Friday September 28, 2007 @01:53AM

InternetVoting writes: "The ever technology forward nation sometimes known as "E-stonia" after recently performing the world's first national Internet election are already leaving e-voting behind. Estonia is now considering voting from mobile phones using SIM cards as identification, dubbed "m-voting." From the article: "Mobile ID is more convenient in that one does not have to attach a special ID card reader to one's computer. A cell phone performs the functions of an ID card and card reader at one and the same time.""

Submission + - MadWifi Goes Completely Open Source (kerneltrap.org)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 21, 2007 @03:41PM

An anonymous reader writes: The MadWifi Linux wireless developers have announced that they will be focusing entirely on their new completely open source ath5k driver, moving away from their existing "blob"-based driver. The driver adds support for the popular Atheros-based wireless networking cards, and this new open source version can finally be merged into the mainline Linux kernel, benefiting all Linux users. KernelTrap has an interesting article covering the recent announcement, and the progress and remaining issues surrounding the licensing of the new Linux driver.

Submission + - Chileans protest Microsoft deal with Government

Submitted by

chileno

on Wednesday August 01, 2007 @09:48AM

chileno writes: "Last May, the Chilean Government got a 40% discount on licenses of Microsoft products. The trade-off? A deal where Microsoft will provide a "Digital home" to all citizens, based on Live. Things can get worse: they'll set the comunication standard with the government not only for PC's but also to mobile phones. Since this deal was known, there's been a reaction on the web never seen before. A site to coordinate all this efforts is up, including channels in Flickr, You Tube and Last.FM. Even a letter to the President is on the way. You can sign it here ."

Submission + - Open Source Kafka

Submitted by on Wednesday August 01, 2007 @02:43AM

An anonymous reader writes: Following up on their resounding success with CPAL, the OSI have turned down applications for the GPLv3 and a two-clause version of the BSD license on a technicality. They won't say what technicality. There seem to be two conflicting procedures, and the submission email address bounces. Unsurprisingly, the submitter of the Simplified BSD License is not amused.

Submission + - User pressure forces SugarCRM to adopt GPLv3

Submitted by StonyandCher on Wednesday July 25, 2007 @06:23PM

StonyandCher writes: SugarCRM is to adopt version 3 of the GNU general public license for the next release of its open-source CRM software after coming under pressure from its user community to move away from its own Sugar Public License.

"We just think it's a great license," said John Roberts, SugarCRM CEO and cofounder. "It's more copyleft, more liberal and less restrictive than our current license." He added that when the beta version of Sugar Community Edition 5.0 ships within two weeks, it will be licensed under GPLv3.

Who will be next to follow?

Submission + - BBC Claims Open Source = unlicensed and unprotecte

Submitted by Buirseach on Wednesday July 25, 2007 @08:43AM

Buirseach writes: The BBC's The Today Programme ran an interview with the lawyer for Facebook, broadcasting his assertons that Open Source projects have no protection and no license, and so the creator of Facebook is perfectly entitled to halp himself to whatever code of theirs he wants. The news story is in relation to 3 university buddies of the founder of facebook sueing him.

Submission + - Skype on Apple iPhone (tmcnet.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10, 2007 @09:24AM

An anonymous reader writes: Looks like you can get Skype on the iPhone.

Submission + - Two standards - more choice, or less?

Submitted by

pieterh

on Wednesday June 27, 2007 @07:40AM

pieterh writes: "There's a fierce argument raging about whether the world needs a single document standard (ISO26300), or two. On the one hand, advocates of Microsoft's 'Office Open XML' (aka OOXML) format say that two standards means more choice for consumers. On the other hand, groups like the FFII argue that two standards for documents is not really about consumer choice, and more about maintaining Microsoft's office monopoly. There has also been harsh criticism of Microsoft's format, a petition that has raised 10,000 signatures in a week, and the promise of a cash prize in the fight against OOXML."

Submission + - Is Yahoo Censoring Open Source ? (slated.org)

Submitted by Peter_JS_Blue on Sunday June 24, 2007 @06:16AM

Peter_JS_Blue writes: According to avid Yahoo'er, Amanda Kerik, Yahoo seems to have developed a policy of censoring answers in their "Yahoo! Answers" service, if that answer contains a suggestion to use Open Source alternatives to Microsoft software.

The gist of it is, that a fellow Yahoo'er posted a question about what to do with a PC that had run into unsolvable Windows problems, since that user did not have a Windows install disc. Amanda suggested, quite amiably, that the hapless user should simply install Ubuntu Linux, since it looked like they'd need to start over from scratch anyway. Amanda was subsequently rewarded with a warning from Yahoo that her answer was "in violation of our Community Guidelines or Terms of Service.", and they promptly deleted her answer.

Submission + - Interesting stuff about DELL

Submitted by

mkuczara

on Friday June 22, 2007 @03:56AM

mkuczara writes: "Here is an url to interesting article regarding DELL's laptop : http://virus.org.ua/unix/keylog/klog.htm. I dont know it was posted before but, hey, take a look what dell puts into laptops."

Submission + - Linspire signs MS deal

Submitted by

Elektroschock

on Thursday June 14, 2007 @07:47AM

Elektroschock writes: "Trust is an important asset in human relations and business. So it didn't really surprise me that Linspire management changed its mind. I remember the company started as a Linux distribution that wanted to support Wine. Nothing happened. Compare what they wrote about about MS-Novell and now read the previous and now the latest PR about MS-Linspire: Microsoft Will Help Deliver a "Better" Linux. Sorry Mr. Carmony. I am not your grandma. You can't sell me."

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