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Red Flag Linux Forced On Chinese Internet Cafes

Posted by timothy on from the billions-and-billions-served dept.

iamhigh writes "Reports are popping up that Chinese Internet Cafes are being required to switch to Red Flag Linux. Red Flag is China's biggest Linux distro and recently received headlines for their Olympic Edition release. The regulations, effective Nov. 5th, are aimed at combating piracy and require only that cafes install either a legal version of Windows or Red Flag. However, Radio Free Asia says that cafes are being forced to install Red Flag even if they have legal versions of Windows. Obviously questions about spying and surveillance have arisen, with no comment from the Chinese Government."

4 of 295 comments (clear)

  1. I got it, pirate from Red Flag! by Suisho · · Score: 0, Troll

    Wait... how is this Linux version combating piracy? Its combating the use of stolen software, yes (assuming they don't put windows back on)but the act of pirating the software took place already. And besides, I guarantee there is more than one CD copy of windows hidden somewhere in those cafe's. I would be curious if the distro has been modified for easier...*ahm* monitoring. Course, it doesn't stop getting on red flag and pirate windows from a cafe. Or an mp3, or whatever else.

  2. Re:You can't spot the obvious danger? by whoda · · Score: 0, Troll

    I really think that there is a higher risk of the Chinese government sneaking a backdoor into Windows through an employee of Microsoft...

    Just like the CIA has been doing with Microsoft, HP, IBM, Sun, and Oracle and others for years.

  3. Re:Spy and Malware. by LingNoi · · Score: 0, Troll

    and bush did 9/11.... Get serious or get the fuck out.

  4. Re:Spy and Malware. by LingNoi · · Score: 0, Troll

    Show me the code in GCC which adds exploits or shut the fuck up. I'm sick of reading you people's paranoid delusions about compiler exploits.