bypass advertising ID resetting with hardware identifiers, but surely it considers free software sending advertising ID to third-parties a problem already.

3) Google Analytics on web sites:

> Many web sites report all their visitors to Google by using the Google Analytics service, which tells Google the IP address and the page that was visited.

Visit for example https://addons.mozilla.org (with the DNT header setting at its default, off) and see the site connection attempt to Google Analytics. I will not discuss the clearly worse problem of Google Analytics inside Firefox itself because this behavior is not in the GNU malware examples list, like lots of other Mozilla malware problems. Let's just focus on this list for the exercize.

4) Spying on other installed software:

> Google Chrome spies on ... other installed software.

So does Firefox.

5) Keylogger in the address bar:

> Google Chrome contains a key logger that sends Google every URL typed in, one key at a time.

So does Firefox.


6) Backdoor:

> The Google Play Terms of Service insist that the user of Android accept the presence of universal back doors in apps released by Google.

> This does not tell us whether any of Google's apps currently contains a universal back door, but that is a secondary question.

https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.en.html :

> Windows, mobile phone firmware, and Google Chrome for Windows include a universal back door that allows some company to change the program remotely without asking permission.

Well in the case of Firefox, it is even known that there are backdoors, enabled by default. Here is an example of how they were already misused, although surely the GNU project recognizes that their mere existence is a problem in itself. Correction: merely asking in terms of service to accept a backdoor, even if not present and not used, is already considered as a malware problem in itself above by the GNU project. Another example: the telemetry coverage extension.

7) A subcase of the previous : backdoor to remotely change user settings

> Android has a back door for remotely changing “user” settings.

So does Firefox. It's part of this thing which also does many other things.

8) Forced remote removal of "apps":

> In Android, Google has a back door to remotely delete apps.

So has Firefox for extensions. The user is not allowed to choose to keep the targeted extension enabled. This does not only target malicious extensions (a situation which would already be wrong if enforced, according to the GNU project), but also legit extensions that do not comply with the Mozilla policies, which apply to all extensions even those that they do not distribute through their own store.

9) Disabling of extensions not in the company store:

> On Windows and MacOS, Chrome disables extensions that are not hosted in the Chrome Web Store.

> For example, an extension was banned from the Chrome Web Store, and permanently disabled on more than 40,000 computers.

So does mobile Firefox ; in fact, only a tiny whitelist of

extensions from a subset of the store is now allowed.

10) DRM:

> Chrome implements DRM. So does Chromium, through nonfree software that is effectively part of it.

So does Firefox. In fact, DRM is even downloaded by default after Firefox install at least on some versions, even if no DRM site has ever been visited.

11) Restriction of adblockers:

> Google is modifying Chromium so that extensions won't be able to alter or block whatever the page contains.

This is a reference to webextension manifest v3. Mozilla has refused to say that they would not remove the blocking webrequest too in the future.



Even for those who do not care about this malicious behavior for themselves, merely using malicious software harms others too, see Primary and Secondary Injustices.


As hinted before, all this is only a small sample of malicious behavior from Mozilla, and the not mentioned parts are often way worse. Maybe I will compile a more complete list in the future. Thoughts ? Shouldn't they be ostracized by the free software community until they comply, like Canonical in its time ? And why haven't they been already ?

Thank you for your attention.

https://redd.it/m5uztx
@r_linux

Maps and GNOME 40
http://ml4711.blogspot.com/2021/03/maps-and-gnome-40.html

https://redd.it/m6075b
@r_linux

Lyrebird – simple and powerful voice changer app for Linux written in GTK3
https://github.com/charpointer/lyrebird

https://redd.it/m4v2c9
@r_linux

What’s New in Libhandy for GTK
https://aplazas.pages.gitlab.gnome.org/blog/blog/2021/03/12/libhandy-1-2.html

https://redd.it/m4uk9u
@r_linux

Attempting to Explain My Linux Mail Config as Simply as Possible
http://muto.ca/posts/email-with-alpine-and-msmtp.html

https://redd.it/m62se5
@r_linux

Port Extensions to GNOME Shell 40 Documentation
https://gjs.guide/extensions/upgrading/gnome-shell-40.html

https://redd.it/m61ulp
@r_linux

Distro for an old (but capable) machine

Hello everyone. My girlfriend's computer is currently sitting on Mint 18.3 and it has been like so for 3-4 years now. I want to upgrade it but I'm somewhat concerned about hardware support on newer distributions. I've been trying to read up on the topic on what supports what - it is an Intel Haswell (4th gen Core i5-4570), integrated video, АSROCk z87 pro3 motherboard.

Most topics on "distros for older computers" focus on how lightweight a certain flavor is. I'm more interested in something that is feature rich but also supports legacy hardware. Can you please recommend something? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

https://redd.it/m64v0q
@r_linux

PSA: OBS Studio Beta Flatpak works smoothly on Wayland!
https://discourse.flathub.org/t/obs-studio-on-flathub-beta/690

https://redd.it/m661lo
@r_linux

Retroshare 0.6.6 released with improved performance and UI, support for Tor v3 and a new server solution [secure communication platform]
https://retroshareteam.wordpress.com/2021/03/15/release-notes-for-v0-6-6/

https://redd.it/m66dyg
@r_linux

Terminal file manager nnn v3.6 released
https://github.com/jarun/nnn/releases/tag/v3.6

https://redd.it/m67t5o
@r_linux

Best study materials online?

Want to study for LPIC-1 cert for my new job but not feeling very confident to start there so maybe I'd just go with Essentials first just to get a solid ground.

Looking for the best online materials to prepare for the exams.
I know about Linux Academy but can't for the hell of me login into the LA portion of the site- it just displays the head scratching penguin picture. I'm registered on cloud guru and can login there but kinda confused if the courses and the subnoscription between the two sites is shared/same. Just don't get the whole situation with the two sites in general.
I've Downloaded the LA app and unable to login there either but can see the courses list and for example LPI Essentials course duration is listed as 26h in the app but 16h on the Cloud Guru site for the same course with the same teacher, which adds even more to my confusion. Would like to know for sure before I subscribe.
(I've seen some complains about the quality drop for the Linux Academy courses recently though. Are there better options out there?)

I also use Udemy and already got the Linux Mastery: master the command line in 11h course but dunno if it's gonna prep for the cert exam, plus I think I need some practice tests anyway. Found this Jason Dion's Essentials course which is now on sale for me and does have tests, is it any good?
Not so many LPIC courses on udemy I guess.

https://redd.it/m64i6d
@r_linux

So I got this when trying to create a partition for Linux swap while trying to dual boot Manjaro And Win10 and I'm not sure what to delete
https://redd.it/m6b9b3
@r_linux

What to look for in Fedora Workstation 34
https://blogs.gnome.org/uraeus/2021/03/15/what-to-look-for-fedora-workstation-34/

https://redd.it/m6b7u9
@r_linux

"We are pleased to announce the availability of a new mailing list service running under the new lists.linux.dev domain"
https://www.kernel.org/lists-linux-dev.html

https://redd.it/m6c6n8
@r_linux

Discussion Icons and UI design on Linux

Hi everyone,

I have been using Linux for some time and have been impressed by the high degree of customizability of modern desktop Linux. One thing that I particular liked is the ability to modify themes and icons to my liking. This is also something that used to be popular back in the XP days, but had became much less so on Windows 10. It is one of the reason that drives me towards Linux.

However, in the past decade (?), I have noticed there is an increasing usage of using bland, monochrome and symbolic icons in many Linux software. For comparison, pic below is from ubuntu 10.04 from \~10 years ago, look at all the colorful icons:

​

https://preview.redd.it/4kkqwt6tgen61.png?width=1366&format=png&auto=webp&s=f054c1ba6f05e99ea6214efeaabed27cee5176d6

Pic below is my gnome 3 desktop today, which I have reset to default icons:

​

https://preview.redd.it/jcqkok5ugen61.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=ff69ee94b66e603a61819364eafb42e4bc95bae0

You can also see many applications, e.g., Firefox, GIMP, nautilus, all use monochrome icons by default.

While it is true that many of these applications can be themed, one question remains: why developers do not want to use colorful, realistic icons that used to be ubiquitous long time ago, instead, choose to use monochrome icons which is rather "dull" and "unaesthetic" (my opinion) as default? I'm sure there are public domain icons that are well-designed and look much "better" than these defaults.

I think having a bright, colorful interface is important in terms of user experience, which is equally important as the actual functionality. I hope more developers can realize this and make use of "better" icons, or at least provide theming support for their software.

https://redd.it/m6a9fl
@r_linux

TIL: On Linux one can type arbitrary Unicode characters via <CTRL + SHIFT + U> then entering a Unicode value and pressing space
https://twitter.com/brianredbeard/status/1371862052797517825

https://redd.it/m6dbbm
@r_linux

Single cgroup memory limit for both hugetlb and non huge pages?

Hey, i am fairly new to cgroup, I understand in cgroup v2, it has a separate controller for hugetlb, but the memory controller still only tracks the non huge pages memory. Is there a way to have a combined limitinbytes for all the memory (including both huge pages and non huge pages) a cgroup can use?

https://redd.it/m6c6eq
@r_linux

Highlights from Git 2.31 - The GitHub Blog
https://github.blog/2021-03-15-highlights-from-git-2-31/

https://redd.it/m6ato4
@r_linux

Should I switch?

I want to switch to Mint from windows 10 on a 4gb intel i3 computer for speed options and overall just easier browsing, but my problem is I use some apps that just aren’t on linux.

I use adobe apps like premiere pro, media encoder and photoshop and I use screenwriting apps. I know there are good alternatives but I’m just not sure if I should switch.

https://redd.it/m6l0bc
@r_linux

Can't tell if I'm using llvmpipe or Nvidia.

I'm currently running Ubuntu 20.10 and I wanted to try out Wayland even though I know that XWayland apps won't run with hardware acceleration yet on my GTX 1070. I looked up tutorials on how to prevent Wayland from being blocked when using an Nvidia card and I'm currently writing this post from a Wayland session.

I have a dual monitor setup. Both are 27" but one is UHD and the other is QHD so I have 150% scaling on the UHD monitor. Everything looks crisp and it's a much better experience than I'm use to on Windows or X11...but then I checked the About page in Gnome Settings. It says I'm running in Wayland but under Graphics its says llvmpipe (LLVM 11.0.0, 256 bits).

When I first started using Linux back in October, I had trouble installing Nvidia's proprietary drivers for whatever reason and I would constantly get set back to llvmpipe. I don't remember it supporting high resolutions let alone two high resolution monitors. Not only that but all animations are smooth and CPU usage is only at 3 or 4%.

I can only assume that Gnome is incorrectly reporting that I'm using lllvm. Has anybody else experienced this?

https://redd.it/m6lrxu
@r_linux