La NSA investiga el código de Systemd

linux

Una noticia se confirmó en las últimas horas y desde entonces ha tenido bastante preocupada a la comunidad del software libre en general, y es que la NSA ha comenzado a investigar el código de KDBUS, el backend IPC de Systemd que llegará integrado en el kernel de Linux 4.3. O al menos, la National Security Agency (o Agencia de Seguridad Nacional) ha solicitado a los desarrolladores información respecto al funcionamiento de este conector de seguridad.

Así se desprende de la lista de correo del kernel de Linux y también del sitio Phoronix, en donde nos brindan algo más de información respecto a los supuestos motivos que habrían llevado a Stephen Smalley, parte del equipo de la NSA encargado de SELinux y SEAndroid, a comunicarse con los desarrolladores en busca de información. El problema radica en una falsificación de credenciales en KDBUS, algo que no formaba parte del código de DBUS pero que ha sido realizado en pos de la retrocompatibilidad.

La capacidad de alguien como Smalley está fuera de discusión, siendo como es parte integral del equipo que desarrolla proyectos de la calidad de Security Enhanced Linux y Security Enhanced Android. Pero David Herrmann, quien forma parte del grupo que desarrolla Systemd, explica la razón de ser de esa falsificación de identidad: compatibilidad con dbus1. Y es que en este esquema los clientes se conectan a los sockets Unix ubicados en la jerarquía del sistema de archivos, y solicitan al conector una etiqueta de seguridad que permanece ‘abierta’ mientras dura la conexión, pero en KDBUS esta etiqueta se solicita y se desactiva una vez que se corrobora su existencia, la cual confirma a su vez la existencia de posibles conexiones o búsquedas por parte de otros conectores.

La cuestión es bastante técnica y excede el conocimiento de una enorme porción de los usuarios de Linux, pero más allá de ello se trata de un tema que deja en evidencia una de las cuestiones por las que más abogan los defensores del software libre, y es que esta clase de debates solo pueden ser posibles en proyectos de código abierto, donde todo lo que sucede puede ser visto y probado por quienes se interesen y lo que es más, las discusiones sobre ello son públicas -y de hecho se alienta a la comunidad para que así sea- mientras que en el caso de Windows o Mac OS X, una solicitud de información de este tipo por parte de la NSA sólo sería conocida por las empresas y los usuarios jamás se enterarían de ellas.

El artículo La NSA investiga el código de Systemd ha sido originalmente publicado en Linux Adictos.

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5.5-inch Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 passes through TENAA

Back in January we thought we saw the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 passing through TENAA, China's equivalent to the FCC. However, that may not have been the case, since phones going through the agency's tests usually launch a few weeks after. And the Redmi Note 2 still isn't official.

That said, a handset that very well may be it has now been certified by TENAA. It's got a 5.5-inch touchscreen, just like its predecessor, but is smaller than the Redmi Note by every measurement.

This means Xiaomi was able to make its bezels smaller, which is also quite obvious from the images above. The new device will measure 152.05 x 76.2 x 8.05 mm. For comparison's sake, keep in mind that the original Redmi Note measured 154 x 78.7 x 9.45 mm.

Another thing that TENAA has helpfully revealed about the Redmi Note 2 is that it will sport a 3,020 mAh battery. That's smaller than the original's, so hopefully battery life won't be affected.

Two versions of the Redmi Note 2 have been tested by the Chinese agency, and you can see from the pictures above that they are identical in looks. Yet while one comes with the necessary bands for China Mobile, the other seems tailored for China Unicom as well as the international market. It looks like China Telecom, the country's third carrier, won't be getting in on the action for whatever reason.

Past leaks talked about the Redmi Note 2 coming either with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 SoC or a MediaTek MT6795, 1080p screen resolution, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and perhaps even a metal build.

Source (in Chinese) | Via (in…

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Google Play web design gets an update

Google has rolled out the updated design of the website to everyone. The redesign is only focused on improved product pages more than anything else.

If you click on any item on the website now, you will be greeted by a narrow view that looks almost like someone copy pasted the Google Play app UI on to the web page. The narrow column wastes quite a bit of space on the side.

It's only when you widen your window that a 'similar apps' section pops on the side but even then you can't help but feel like a lot of space is being wasted. Google also moved the +1 button at the bottom, which was actually a convenient to tell others you approve of an app, but that might be a sign of greater things at Google+.

Overall, not the greatest UI design, especially for people with widescreen monitors (so, like, most of…

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Legendary Pictures has a new set of VR experiences for Google Cardboard

Say what you want about Google Cardboard, but the low-budget stereoscopic headset can be a lot of fun. Sadly, compatible and amusing content still seems to be scarce and hard to come across. Which is why we are happy to share every new bit of fun we find, like Legendary Picture's new app.

It is available for both Android and iOS devices and should work fine as long as your smartphone has enough power to play back the content, which shouldn't be an issues for most. And since it is simply done in stereoscopic 3D, you are not even limited to using only Google Cardboard. A lot of third-party products exist for a variety of devices and screen sizes and a quick search online should get you quickly geared up for some VR fun. Even if you don't have a headset and curiosity hasn't really convinced you to splurge a few bucks, Legendary has also included a traditional 2D viewing mode.

The content within the app itself naturally doubles up as a promotional material for the studio's work. There are three experiences to go through. First up is a chilling tour of Allerdale Hall – the creepy gothic mansion featured in the upcoming film Crimson Peak. Then, for a quick change of pace, you get to see what it is like to pilot a 250-foot robotic warrior, taken straight from the set of Pacific Rim. Last, but definitely not least, you can take an enchanting ride on a Gryphon across the skies over Azeroth – a mythical realm inside the Warcraft universe, which is also set to appear on the big screen – namely this June in the epic World of Warcraft movie.

So, if you have a few minutes and a Google Cardboard lying around, we encourage you to give the app a quick…

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Facebook News Feed changes to give you more control over what shows up

The News Feed is one of the most important parts of Facebook, so this is pretty big news. The social network has announced that it's giving its users more ways to tweak what shows up in the News Feed.

This comes by way of a revamped News Feed Preferences menu, which launches on iOS today and will become available for Android and the Web "over the coming weeks".

The new News Feed Preferences let you prioritize whose stuff you see first, easily unfollow people or reconnect with those you've previously unfollowed, and discover new pages. To make sure you don't miss posts from specific friends and pages, you can prioritize them. Then, every time you launch Facebook, you'll see the stuff they shared since you last visited the social network at the top of the News Feed, with a star attached (so you know why that's there). If you scroll down, you'll then get the rest of your News Feed normally.

"Discover New Pages" is basically just a collection of recommended pages that Facebook thinks you should like, based on the types of pages you've liked in the past. You've always been able to unfollow people from their profile, but now you can choose to do that from the new Unfollow menu in News Feed Preferences too, if you so wish. Presumably this should be more useful for bulk operations. You can also see who you've unfollowed in the past, and choose to re-follow them.

The new News Feed Preferences can be accessed in the iOS app by tapping on More in the bottom right corner, then going to…

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Barnes & Noble is shutting down its international Windows Nook store

If you happen to be an avid reader and like the whole idea of an e-book device, then you probably own a Kindle. Yet, Amazon's signature device does have quite a few alternatives, most-notably the Barnes & Noble Nook, which a lot of users do find to be more-convenient than a Kindle.

All seems to be good and well with the company's e-ink readers, but a new email sent out to international users paints a different story for the company's Windows client base.

It informs user outside the US and UK that the Windows Nook app will stop functioning on August 7. Furthermore, payments form Microsoft accounts are no longer supported, so any purchase made through that channel may be eligible for a full refund. Here is the original memo:

Dear Customer,We recently announced that Barnes & Noble and Microsoft have agreed to terminate their commercial partnership. As a result, payments through your Microsoft account no longer supported. In addition, the NOOK App for Windows will from August 7, 2015 are no longer available outside the United States. This means that your NOOK content can no longer open on a Windows platform.

Our records indicate that you are outside the United States and that you are using your Microsoft account as a payment method in your NOOK App for Windows account. Therefore, you may be eligible for a refund from Microsoft for any purchases you have made with your Microsoft account.

This has all the signs of a bitter retaliation from Barnes & Noble. As some of you surely remember, Microsoft initially had an investment in the Nook store, which Barnes & Noble bought out last December. Apparently, the two sides weren't getting along too well, judging by the abrupt termination of the partnership. Still, it could just be a radical step to streamline the company's business which has shrunk significantly and is in need of some…

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Nokia Z Launcher gets minor update, still in beta

While the Nokia sub-unit that Microsoft acquired is going through some hard times, the Nokia company still musters some excitement and continues to develop its launcher replacement, the Nokia Z Launcher.

The latest update brings a short changelog but it's all welcome improvements. New functionality allows you to change the wallpaper from the launcher settings. Some visual feedback has been added to show where you touched the screen.

The rest includes unnamed bugfixes and performance improvements and those are always welcome. You can update the Z Launcher (still in Beta) from the Play Store.

Source |…

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New Office 2016 for Mac now available for purchase

Microsoft has released the final version of Office 2016 for Mac. The company had released a preview back in March but now you can purchase the full version from Microsoft.

Office 2016 for Mac is a complete revamp of the old Office 2011. The new app brings the new UI design seen on the Windows and mobile versions of Office while harmonizing with the new design and features of OS X. It supports features like fullscreen mode, multi-touch gestures, and also has Retina assets for all the high resolution Macs.

Office 2016 for Mac comes with five applications – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. If you are an Office 365 user, you can just download it for free. If you are a student, you could get it for free or at a substantial discount. If you are a home user, you can get it for the same monthly or yearly subscription price as the Windows version or from your local…

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