Fred Palma | Computer Scientist

sudo apt-get install gs pdftk (Debian, Ubuntu)

gs -dNOPAUSE -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -sOUTPUTFILE=mergedfile.pdf -dBATCH file1.pdf file2.pdf file3.pdf

Tags: Linux by Fred
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From Computerworld by Steven

As everyone knows by now who follows technology news, the Financial Times reported that Google “is phasing out the internal use of Microsoft’s ubiquitous Windows operating system because of security concerns.” Some doubt this story, because they say that’s its vague about sources. Well, I asked, and the story is ‘mostly’ right. Google is switching away from Windows to Linux and Macs, but it’s not just because security.

I e-mailed Google and, according to a Google official, while “We’re always working to improve the efficiency of our business, but we don’t comment on specific operational matters.” That’s not much of a statement, but did you notice the key word there? It’s ‘efficiency.’

I then got on the phone, IM and e-mail with my friends at Google and they told me off-the-record pretty much what the Google employees told the Financial Times that “Many people have been moved away from [Windows] PCs, mostly towards Mac OS, following the China hacking attacks.” But, following that efficiency word around, I was also told that Linux was far cheaper than Windows and that many Google users preferred it, in any case, to Windows. While many others found Macs to just be more useful than Windows PCs.

Google’s internal users have eclectic tastes when it comes to Linux. Ubuntu was quite popular, but so was-surprise!–Google’s own Android; Fedora; openSUSE; and the newly released MeeGo. As for the Mac users, I got the impression there may be more MacBook Pro users at Google than there are at Apple.

The Linux users preferred it for all the usual reasons: It was faster, more secure, and more stable than Windows. In addition, it did everything they needed. As you might guess, Chrome is the Web browser of choice for Google Linux users, and many of them use Google’s SaaS (Software as a Service) applications like Google Docs. As one of them told me, “Why should I waste my time with Windows and all its pain in the ass junk when I can do everything I need to do with Chrome on Ubuntu?” The Mac users, in turn, sounded like most people who like Macs. They preferred its interface and applications to those of either Linux or Windows.

Now, some analysts claim that Google’s move away from Windows isn’t about security at all. Instead, they would have it that it’s all about Google positioning itself to do battle with Microsoft and Windows. I’m sure that’s part of it too, but for their claims that Windows is secure is just utter and total nonsense.Windows is insecure by design. Always has been, always will be. To pretend that Windows’ security costs and failures aren’t important to Fortune 500 companies is total balderdash.

Have these fools forgotten that China attacked Google and many other major companies only a few months ago? Do you think sticking with an operating system that’s has as many holes in as a fisherman’s net make sense? I don’t think so! As one staffer told me, “I am not going to be the next guy to hose the company because of Windows.”

Sure, Mac OS X has its security problems as well, but, in practice, it’s still more secure than Windows. As for Linux, it’s more secure than either one, and it’s always been much tougher to attack than the others.

There’s also been some silly talk about how Google can’t really mean that they’re switching away from Windows because so many of their users depend on Windows. Uh… what makes you think that just because the rank and file is moving to other operating systems means that the developers aren’t going to be using Windows machines? Heck, I’m about as pro-Linux desktop a person on the planet, and I use Windows PCs all the time for reviews. Of course, Google will still use Windows system for development and testing.

I’m also sure that there are some special applications that don’t exist on Linux and Macs that will still be running on Windows PCs. But, seriously, what work-a-day jobs can’t you do on a Linux PC or Mac these days? Are there any? I can go days without ‘needing’ to touch my Windows PCs.

My buddy Jason Perlow, who also runs multiple operating systems, has found that he can meet 80% of his computing needs without Windows and for the rest he uses virtualized Windows on Linux. That works for me, and it probably does for Google as well.

The bottom line is that Google wants to be both more secure and more efficient. To do that, it makes perfect sense for them to abandon Windows for Linux and Mac OS X. Come to think of it, it makes perfect sense for most companies as well.

Tags: Google, Linux, Microsoft, Windows by Fred
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From Free Tecnology Academy
GNU/Linux Advanced Administration
The GNU/Linux systems have reached an important level of maturity, allowing to integrate them in almost any kind of work environment, from a desktop PC to the sever facilities of a big company.
In the module called “The GNU/Linux operating system”, the main contents are related with system administration. This book is the main documentation for the module.

We will learn how to install and configure several computer services, and how to optimise and synchronise the resources.

The activities that will take place in this module cover the studied topics in a practical approach, applying these concepts in real GNU/Linux systems.

Authors: Remo Suppi Boldrito, Josep Jorba Esteve
Coordinator: Josep Jorba Esteve
Licenses: GNU Free Documentation License, Creative Commons Attribute ShareAlike License
Information: 545 Pages; 18.8 Mb

Tags: Linux by Fred
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http://www.turnkeylinux.org/

Turnkey Linux is an open source project developing a free virtual appliance library that features the very best server-oriented open source software. Each virtual appliance is optimized for ease of use and can be deployed in just a few minutes on bare metal, a virtual machine and in the cloud.

Tags: Linux, Operational System by Fred
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A team of researchers has implemented support for ‘trusted computing’ in a commercially available version of the open source operating system Linux, breaking new ground in the global drive toward more secure computing environments.

The latest release of openSUSE, a Linux version sponsored by software maker Novell, comes packaged with software that allows users to set up a trusted computing (TC) environment on their computer, enhancing security beyond the antivirus programs and firewalls that frequently prove inadequate at keeping bugs, viruses and spyware at bay.

Promoted and developed by major chipmakers and software companies in the international Trusted Computing Group, trusted computing uses both hardware and software to create a trusted and secure environment, whether on a home PC, a web server, in a data centre or over a corporate network. At the core of the technology is the trusted platform module (TPM), which is a chip that, among other security-boosting features, generates and manages cryptographic keys, verifies the identity of the computer on a network and protects software and data from malicious changes.
Awakening the dormant chip

Many new laptops and increasing numbers of desktop PCs and servers already have TPM chips as standard, while chipmakers such as Intel and AMD have started incorporating the technology directly into their latest generation of processors. However, most TPM chips are currently lying dormant, awaiting activation with the arrival of software that can make use of their enhanced security features.

“The hardware is there… what is needed are operating systems and software to exploit it,” says Herbert Petautschnig, a researcher at Austrian technology group Technikon.

Technikon led a consortium of 23 research and business partners, including AMD, IBM, HP, Infineon and Novell, in developing open source software and applications for TC environments as part of the EU-funded OpenTC project. The group’s implementation of TC support in openSUSE version 11.2 involved building a trusted software stack (TSS) for Linux, developing universal virtualisation layers (including improvements to the Xen hypervisor virtual machine monitor) and creating TC and TPM management software. It constitutes a pioneering implementation of TC technology.

“openSUSE is now the first operating system to offer full TC support,” Petautschnig notes. “Until now, TC had been implemented for specific applications, such as Microsoft’s BitLocker hard drive encryption in Windows Vista and Windows 7 or the fingerprint reader on some HP laptops… With the OpenTC platform we are extending the TC environment to the full operating system and beyond,” the project manager adds.

Unlike traditional security technology that operates only at the software level and only starts protecting a computer after it is loaded, TC technology provides security from the moment the power button is pressed. As the system boots and runs, the OpenTC platform continually monitors the computer for changes and ensures that only trusted, verified software is functioning. In a networked environment, it verifies the identity and integrity of the computer. And it allows different pieces of software and data to be “compartmentalised” so there is no exchange between them even as they share the same computing and/or network resources.
Safer online transactions, trusted corporate networking

OpenTC developed several proof-of-concept applications for the technology. In one, called private electronic transaction (PET), the team showed how it can verify and secure online transactions, such as accessing a bank account. In another, they showed how TC compartments can provide secure remote access to corporate networks, both keeping company information safe on an employee’s home PC and ensuring that the employee’s personal information, photos and games are not visible to their employer.

The ability of TC technology to keep data and processes safely isolated from each other can be extended to enable virtual data centres. As demonstrated by IBM in the OpenTC project, TC software could be used by data centre operators to provide virtualised resources to different clients while sharing the underlying physical infrastructure, thereby ensuring different companies’ data remain separate and secure.

The logical next step, which members of the OpenTC consortium plan to explore in a new project, is to extend TC to cloud computing to enhance the security of services and computational resources provided over the internet. Another project, TECOM, a follow-up initiative to OpenTC that has also received EU funding, will aim to develop TC solutions for embedded platforms, focusing particularly on smart phones and mobile computing applications.

Several of the project partners are commercially exploiting the results of the OpenTC project internally. Petautschnig says they are also open to investor interest to support further development of TC technology. Consortium members are also active in standardisation efforts, helping to extend trusted computing to mobile platforms and the Java programming language, for example.
Despite controversy, a bright future

In the past, TC technology has stirred controversy, not least over its potential for abuse by software and hardware makers to restrict what computer users can do and its applications for digital rights management. However, Petautschnig believes the future for trusted computing systems is bright as the technology starts to be seen as an essential tool in the fight against an intensifying onslaught of hack attacks, viruses and spyware bombarding the world’s computer users.

“Most people will not know that TC components are running on their computers keeping them safe. Conversely, at present most do not know what information is being leaked and stolen by spyware and viruses running on their machines,” Petautschnig notes.

OpenTC project
OpenTC fact sheet on CORDIS

From: Cordis – ICT Results

Tags: Linux, security by Fred
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You need to install nautilus image converter:

sudo aptitude install nautilus-image-converter

You’ll need to restart nautilus. One option is logout and back in.
You’ll be able to right-click on any image on your machine and you’ll see two new menu items:

resize images
rotate images

Tags: Linux by Fred
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Command Line Version

rm ~/.gnome2/keyrings/default.
keyring (or login.keyring)


GUI Version

Navigate to Places > Home.  Press ctrl-h for "hidden files".  Navigate to .gnome2 > keyrings.  Delete default.
keyring file(or login.keyring).

Tags: Linux by Fred
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From Amanda at Linux Foundation
Since we launched the Linux Foundation, I’ve been amazed at the passion and willingness to help of Linux users worldwide. This out-pouring of support especially is evident when Linux seems threatened — by a lawsuit, attack by a company, or a combination of the two.  It’s clear that Linux users do not take Linux for granted. In the last six months, we have thought long and hard how to best harness this passion and provide an outlet for this support.

While we  have had an individual membership program since the launch of the Linux Foundation, it’s been somewhat limited in both its impact and the benefits it gives to users. Starting tomorrow that will change. We will announce an expanded individual membership program that will help us promote and protect Linux while delivering tangible advantages to those who wish to support the Linux community’s cause. Most notably, members will receive their own linux.com email address that will showcase to the world — and potential employers — their support for Linux.

Your support goes a long way in enhancing, promoting and protecting Linux for generations to come. But your membership also will connect you with the information, tools and events needed to advance your career and stay current with the platform. We realize altruism only goes so far, so the membership pays for itself with just the LinuxCon, training or O’Reilly discount below. (Your employer may even pay for your membership given the savings on events and training.)

Linux Foundation Benefits:

• Your own Linux.com email address with forwarding service. Since this is a new service, new users will have a chance to grab a nice alias. (Well, amanda at linux dot com is taken already.)
• A weekly Linux.com “Briefing Book” with news, technical tips, and analysis to keep you ahead of the curve.
• 30% off of Linux Foundation LinuxCon 2009 standard registration fees.
• 20% Discount on registration fees for Linux Foundation Training. This can save you (or your company) a lot of money.
• A Free Linux Foundation T-shirt so we can showcase your OS of choice at your next company meeting (or at the grocery store, the beach, Presidential news conferences, the Super Bowl, etc.)

Partner Discounts:

• 35% of O’Reilly Books and E-Books
• 20% Off O’Reilly’s Open Source Convention (OSCON)
• 35% of No Starch Press Publications
• 15% off Subscription to Linux Journal
• 15% off Neuros Technologies NeurosLink. The Neuros LINK allows you to watch internettv (Hulu, Youtube) as well as downloads on your TV using Linux.
• 50% off Southern California Linux Expo (SCALE)
• $10 off every $40 order on Thinkgeek (excluding shipping and taxes)

We hope this program is useful to you, and that you see supporting the promotional, education and protection programs of the Linux Foundation a worthwhile cause. From the legal defense fund, to Linux.com, to our fellows program (currently employing Linus Torvalds), we think these programs are enhancing and protecting Linux now and for future generations. We hope you agree.

To sign up as a member, please visit http://www.linuxfoundation.org/about/join/individual/join

If you have feedback feel free to email me at amanda at linux dot com.

Tags: Linux by Fred
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