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Backdoor found in widely used Linux utility breaks encrypted SSH connections | Ars Technica (arstechnica.com)

submitted 5 months ago by possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

42 comments fedilink hide all child comments

TL;DR there was a backdoor found in the XZ program. All major distros have been updated but it is recommended that you do a fresh install on systems that are exposed to the internet and that had the bad version of the program. Only upstream distros were affected.

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[–] hellfire103@lemmy.ca 6 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Just makes you wonder what else (if anything) is backdoored. I am seriously 🤏 this close to just switching all of my boxes over to OpenBSD.

The last time someone over there was approached about backdooring a related piece of software (which they refused), the OpenBSD devs manually screened the entire codebase, just in case something got in.

Really, the only things I'd miss would be Minecraft, KDE, and Mullvad Browser; and of course I'd have to buy a couple more WiFi dongles (or learn how to port drivers from Linux).

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I honestly think BSD has the potential to be worse due lack of people. I think the best option is to not be paranoid as a user. If someone needs to be paranoid it is the maintainers.

[–] BreakDecks@lemmy.ml 1 points 5 months ago (2 children)

I think the best option is to not be paranoid as a user.

Yeah, just never be a dissident, or a whistleblower, or an activist, or a member of a vulnerable marginalized group. Remember, if you obey there's no reason to fear being spied on.

I really don't think you understand how serious this kind of backdoor is. It puts certain people in real danger.

[–] Rykzon@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

And I don't think you understand OPs point. Of course you should be paranoid as a person like that, but most users aren't targets. If you, as a regular user, get this paranoid about using computers, maybe you should evaluate your priorities.

[–] BreakDecks@lemmy.ml 1 points 5 months ago

If you, as a regular user, get this paranoid about using computers, maybe you should evaluate your priorities.

"Regular user" seems to be a strange counter to all the people I just listed that would be affected here. I'm not worried about myself, I'm worried about the people whose privacy and security is extremely important in this context.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip -1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

These people do not seem to be affected unless they run Arch for some reason.

[–] BreakDecks@lemmy.ml 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

That's only the case because it was caught fast. That was lucky.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 1 points 5 months ago

Most definitely

[–] Scolding0513@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 months ago

BSD is the way to go for ultimate security imo, but the lack of software support makes it difficult for even the average techie.