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New Security-Enhanced Linux Release

Posted by timothy on from the tightening-up dept.

James Cho writes: "Four days ago, the 2nd public release of the NSA's 'security-enhanced' version of Linux (it's not an entire distribution) came out. The NSA describes it as having 'a strong, flexible mandatory access control architecture incorporated into the major subsystems of the kernel". However it must be noted that this 'is not intended as a complete security solution for Linux' and that there is 'still much work needed to develop a complete security solution'."

5 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Nice to see NSA contributing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I just installed the cryptoapi to my 2.4.9 kernel. Having to download a separate patch for crypto made me wonder about the status of the crypto laws in the States. Weren't the crypto export limitatations overturned already, so why isn't the stuff in the kernel?

  2. In times like these... by xophos · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    i would not go near anything, that was touched by nsa fbi or what ever. Hey they demand crypto-backdoors, why should they keep the publicly available version of their os free of backdoors. They can allways say it was just typos...

    1. Re:In times like these... by fossa · · Score: 1, Offtopic

      You have valid misgivings, but keep in mind that the NSA is not one homogenous organization (indeed, no organization of any size is completely homogenous). Calls for crypto backdoors are simply backlash from the tragedy. They cannot possibly reflect the desires of the entire NSA.

  3. Since it is open source... by frleong · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    and this distribution seems to be quite strong in security, I think this will defeat the legislation to block terrorists from using strong encryption... Is NSA helping terrorists in this case to secure their communication channels?

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  4. Re:Let me get this straight... by Cipher13 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I'm as shocked and disgusted at the attack as you or anyone else.

    I actually had people I knew in that building.

    What do you want us to do? Pine over it forever? The fact that we are ABLE to discuss something else shows how unsuccessful that terrorist attack really was despite the massive loss of life.

    Don't label me as insensitive but getting over it is what needs to be done.

    Burbonator: Thats what I'm talking about; the reason for this release is so the NSA has access. Do you really think they'd release something they couldn't break? Oh come on...

    They'd love for terrorists to use this. Its probably got a seive built right into it! :rolleyes: