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Ubuntu tapped by China for national operating system

theregister.co.uk

31–40 of 118 posts

Re: Ubuntu tapped by China for national operating system

#31
I know I'm a cynic/paranoid, but is this in any way tied to the increase in cyber espionage? There's been rumors of the US pushing for backdoors and/or not disclosing exploits in windows and applications, is this China's response to that? Is China looking to do something similar with Linux by using Ubuntu as a trojan to get subtle changes added?

I get very concerned anytime any govt entity wants to get involved with a project.

Re: Ubuntu tapped by China for national operating system

#32
post #26
post #23

I thought Linux avoids malware by both unpopularity and security features? If it suddenly has a global market share of 20%, what then?

I asume the majority of people currently using Ubuntu are smart enough to avoid malware.

I'm not, and I use Ubuntu. I'd love a good tutorial to start learning about it.

Re: Ubuntu tapped by China for national operating system

#33
post #23

I thought Linux avoids malware by both unpopularity and security features? If it suddenly has a global market share of 20%, what then?

AV/firewall software already exists for linux. I don't really see how it would change muc, aside from popularity.

Re: Ubuntu tapped by China for national operating system

#34
post #15

The news means Ubuntu-stewards Canonical will work with China's National University of Defense Technology... ....to ensure that the platform is relevant for the Chinese market... Exactly which features does the University of Defense Technology consider relevant? Is Canonical enabling repression or military aggression?

Canonical aren't enabling anything. They just repackage open source software (bar their custom themes and Unity). If the Chinese populous don't like any of the governments additions, then those users can grab the binaries / source code directly and roll their own customisations.

> If the Chinese populous don't like any of the governments additions, then those users can grab the binaries / source code directly and roll their own customisations.

If the repos are accessible.

Re: Ubuntu tapped by China for national operating system

#35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But as a mechanism of state control that can be very flimsy, it is much easier, however probably not cheaper, to control the choke point; the network. If all it took to avoid state control was a re-install of a non-approved version of kylin/ubuntu then everyone would do it.

The mechanisms of state control remain unchanged - and none of them are online. The big fears of the (non-activist) population are that someone will physically take them or their children to a dark hole, and that someone they know will inform on them so that happens. IP networks are not involved. East Germany is probably the most obvious example in recent times - and the fear mostly came from knowing someone could in…

I think you're over-estimating the amount of control the party has or tries to enforce in China. Inside Chinese border, the amount of people who fear the party is probably in line with those who trust it -- not many.

Re: Ubuntu tapped by China for national operating system

#37
I take offense with the following part of the article:

"Other repressive nations that have developed local versions of Linux include North Korea, which built the KDE-based Red Star OS to help wean it as a nation off of an unfortunate dependence on Windows made by the capitalists over at Microsoft."

China is a "repressive nation"? Says who? Britain, the leader in colonialist aggressions, mass slavery and blatant interventions to third nations?

Re: Ubuntu tapped by China for national operating system

#38

is it really named Kylin such that it would be pronounced "Killin'"? That's awesome.

I'm not exactly sure how it's supposed to be pronounced, but it's the romanized Cantonese name for this mythical beast (pronounced more like "chee-leen" in Mandarin): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qilin

Re: Ubuntu tapped by China for national operating system

#39
post #37

I take offense with the following part of the article: "Other repressive nations that have developed local versions of Linux include North Korea, which built the KDE-based Red Star OS to help wean it as a nation off of an unfortunate dependence on Windows made by the capitalists over at Microsoft." China is a "repressive nation"? Says who? Britain, the leader in colonialist aggressions, mass slavery and blatant inter…

Yes, China is a "repressive nation." Especially when it comes to technology, e.g., "The Great Firewall."

No, Britain is not a "repressive nation." The British government surely takes some repressive actions, but not to such a degree as to be labeled a repressive nation.

Re: Ubuntu tapped by China for national operating system

#40
post #37

I take offense with the following part of the article: "Other repressive nations that have developed local versions of Linux include North Korea, which built the KDE-based Red Star OS to help wean it as a nation off of an unfortunate dependence on Windows made by the capitalists over at Microsoft." China is a "repressive nation"? Says who? Britain, the leader in colonialist aggressions, mass slavery and blatant inter…

Absolutely.

* Tiananmen square. Murders against any form of civil disobedience.

* Secret and non-secret alliances with North Korea.

* Occasional acts of aggression on Japan.

* Great firewall, general suppression of information from citizens.

* Massive amounts of political corruption.

* Human rights violations aplenty.

* Causing an environmental catastrophe. Fucking up the entire planet in the process.

* Tibet, Taiwan, etc etc

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