Security: Updates, Reproducible Builds, Microsoft's Spying Marketed as 'Security', and Xbash Hype

• Security updates for Tuesday

• Reproducible Builds: Weekly report #177

• Microsoft: Like the Borg, we want to absorb all the world's biz computers [Ed: Microsoft wants to spy on and control every single thing. It (kick)started PRISM, so it was never serious about real security.]

  The technology allows Redmond to scan and monitor enrolled devices, and push out security patches, operating system upgrades, and software updates to the kit as necessary. It will also use machine-learning code and analytics to, in its own words, "manage the global MMD device population."

• Unit 42 Researchers Discover Xbash – Malware Which Destroys Linux and Windows Based Databases [Ed: See below; so basically it targets already-screwed systems...]

  Xbash mainly spreads by targeting any unpatched vulnerabilities and weak password

Games: Distance, Ballistic Overkill, GOG, Valve, and Wolfenstein: The Old Blood

• Distance, the amazing atmospheric racing platformer is now officially out

  I've been waiting on this for what feels like forever, after a great run in Early Access the atmospheric racing platformer Distance is now out. A game I've gone back to many times during Early Access! Everything about Distance hits the mark for me.

• FPS game Ballistic Overkill's Bloodlust update is out

  Ballistic Overkill, a cheap and quite decent online FPS game has released a new update named Bloodlust full of tweaks for their newer Rounds game mode.

• The Count Lucanor, a 2D mystery and horror adventure is now on GOG

  For you GOG fans, they've added another quality Linux game! The Count Lucanor, a 2D mystery and horror adventure is now up with Linux support.

• Valve have been fined 147 thousand euros in France

  Thanks to a tip in our Discord, we've found out today that Valve have been fined 147 thousand euros in France. Probably a drop in the ocean compared to Valve's revenue, but enough to turn their heads and pay attention.

• Wolfenstein: The Old Blood Should Now Be In Good Shape With RadeonSI On Mesa 18.3

  Earlier this month Valve developers began working on Mesa/RadeonSI fixes for Wolfenstein: The Old Blood to run nicely with the open-source Linux drivers while the game is running under Steam Play / Proton. The last batch of these fixes for The Old Blood are now in Git for Mesa 18.3. First up is a revert to fix menu hangs in id Tech games like RAGE and Wolfenstein: The New Order.

today's howtos

• Writing More Compact Bash Code

  In any programming language, idioms may be used that may not seem obvious from reading the manual. Often these usages of the language represent ways to make your code more compact (as in requiring fewer lines of code). Of course, some will eschew these idioms believing they represent bad style. Style, of course, is in the eyes of beholder, and this article is not intended as an exercise in defining good or bad style. So for those who may be tempted to comment on the grounds of style I would (re)direct your attention to /dev/null.

• How to Run Commands Simultaneously in Linux

• How to Remove Packages with Dependencies Using Yum

• How To Force APT Package Manager To Use IPv4 In Ubuntu 16.04

• How to fix Indigo Error on Kodi

Cozy Is A Nice Linux Audiobook Player For DRM-Free Audio Files

You could use any audio player to listen to audiobooks, but a specialized audiobook player like Cozy makes everything easier, by remembering your playback position and continuing from where you left off for each audiobook, or by letting you set the playback speed of each book individually, among others. The Cozy interface lets you browse books by author, reader or recency, while also providing search functionality. Books front covers are supported by Cozy - either by using embedded images, or by adding a cover.jpg or cover.png image in the book folder, which is automatically picked up and displayed by Cozy. When you click on an audiobook, Cozy lists the book chapters on the right, while displaying the book cover (if available) on the left, along with the book name, author and the last played time, along with total and remaining time: