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North Korea's Operating System Analyzed (theguardian.com)

Bruce66423 points out an analysis at The Guardian of North Korea's Red Star Linux-based OS, based on a presentation Sunday to the Chaos Communication Congress in Berlin : The features of their Fedora based OS include a watermarking system to enable tracking of files — even if unopened. The operating system is not just the pale copy of western ones that many have assumed, said Florian Grunow and Niklaus Schiess of the German IT security company ERNW, who downloaded the software from a website outside North Korea and explored the code in detail. ... This latest version, written around 2013, is based on a version of Linux called Fedora and has eschewed the previous version’s Windows XP feel for Apple’s OS X – perhaps a nod to the country’s leader Kim Jong-un who, like his father, has been photographed near Macs. The OS, unsurprisingly, allowed only tightly fettered access to web sites, using a whitelist approach that gives access to government-controlled or approved sites.

98 comments

  1. The only question that matters by phantomfive · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Does it include systemd?

    --
    "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    1. Re:The only question that matters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Does it include systemd?

      Of course not. They already have a cult leader to worship.

    2. Re:The only question that matters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      duh.. where do you think systemd originated ? You can say a lot about North Korea, but not that they not contribute back.

    3. Re: The only question that matters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not sure but it comes with a hacked version of Crisis where the NK's are the goodies.

  2. New era by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    In North Korea Fedora Forks You

    1. Re: New era by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Illuminaughty confirmed.

  3. M'leader by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The features of their Fedora based OS include a watermarking system to enable tracking of files — even if unopened.

    Fedora tipping-off intensifies.

  4. So can the file tracking by future+assassin · · Score: 2, Interesting

    be used by citizens in "democratic/free" countries to find out if they were violate by their countries gov/spy agencies?

    --
    by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
    1. Re:So can the file tracking by epyT-R · · Score: 0

      Of course. The People, through their People's deputies, can oversee their own surveillance. Welcome to Liberation!

    2. Re:So can the file tracking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      be used by citizens in "democratic/free" countries to find out if they were violate by their countries gov/spy agencies?

      I'd sure love to know what group of citizens actually still demonstratively give a shit about privacy anymore. Privacy is a concept soon to be extinct due to citizen apathy and ignorance. All those "democratic/free" countries are filled with citizens who could give a flying fuck about privacy, because they gladly download dozens of tracking apps and agree to at least 7 new EULAs every week that they don't EVER bother actually reading.

      The only difference is North Korea isn't bullshitting anyone about it with idiotic fine print.

    3. Re:So can the file tracking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's called "IDS" Intrusion Detection System and yes you can already do this.

      What would be interesting is to pinch the code they created to watermark files and see exactly how they've tied it to a specific computer (probably using the Intel CPU-ID

    4. Re:So can the file tracking by malditaenvidia · · Score: 1

      No need, google already tracks everything you do.

    5. Re:So can the file tracking by TangoMargarine · · Score: 1

      The EFF?

      --
      Unity? Screw that: XFCE. Slashdot Beta? Screw that: SoylentNews. Australis? Screw that: Pale Moon. UX developers DIAF
    6. Re:So can the file tracking by doccus · · Score: 1

      Er.. there is ONE slight difference. So far anyways.. If they see something on your computer they don't like over there, they take you out and shoot you. Of course your odds are probably even worse if you're related to Kim Fat-Goon or whatever his name is, but I sure wouldn't be accessing wikileaks with that OS. Prolly can't anyways.

    7. Re:So can the file tracking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No need, google already tracks everything you do.

      So instead of fedora why aren't they just using GoogleOS (OK fine.. Chrome OS.. ) or whatever and splitting the dirt. I'm sure Google would be happy to oblige (unofficially of course). Oh, I get it ... The "People's demokratik republic" also wants to spy on the alphabet ;-)

    8. Re: So can the file tracking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wkndows 10 does.

    9. Re:So can the file tracking by Maritz · · Score: 1

      All those "democratic/free" countries are filled with citizens who could give a flying fuck about privacy

      Sadly I think you're wrong there - they don't seem to care about privacy at all.

      --
      I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
  5. Great opportunity by olsmeister · · Score: 2

    Someone should strip out all the big brother BS, leave everything else alone, and put it back where DPRK citizens can get it.

  6. Wonder how the files are watermarked... by mlts · · Score: 4, Interesting

    TFA didn't have many details, but I wonder how the files were watermarked. Some metadata perhaps, that added atime/ctime/ and the computer's install ID?

    Perhaps a modification to the filesystem to allow for alternate data streams (a la NTFS) which would have a linked list of machines the file has sat on, which would be hidden from the user, and would move with the file?

    1. Re:Wonder how the files are watermarked... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      TFA didn't have many details, but I wonder how the files were watermarked. Some metadata perhaps, that added atime/ctime/ and the computer's install ID?

      Perhaps a modification to the filesystem to allow for alternate data streams (a la NTFS) which would have a linked list of machines the file has sat on, which would be hidden from the user, and would move with the file?

      Given that this is based on Fedora, I would presume that they use Red Hat's existing watermarking functionality.

      Google it.

    2. Re:Wonder how the files are watermarked... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      See https://www.insinuator.net/2015/07/redstar-os-watermarking/

  7. Re: He is a Republican hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They want us all to be poor.

  8. Re: He is a Republican hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Those Republicans don't want us to have a voice.

  9. Kim Jong-un likes OS X? by jeffb+(2.718) · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, I guess that bit about "Here's to the crazy ones" carried more weight than we supposed.

    1. Re:Kim Jong-un likes OS X? by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

      ... perhaps a nod to the country’s leader Kim Jong-un who, like his father, has been photographed near Macs.

      Lemme guess - were they pointing at them?

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    2. Re: Kim Jong-un likes OS X? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They were pointing at them and saying, "Now that's how to run a cult of unthinking obedience".

  10. Uggggh| by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "The OS, unsurprisingly, allowed only tightly fettered access to web sites, using a whitelist approach that gives access to government-controlled or approved sites."

    In other words-the NSA wet dream.

    1. Re:Uggggh| by myowntrueself · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "The OS, unsurprisingly, allowed only tightly fettered access to web sites, using a whitelist approach that gives access to government-controlled or approved sites."

      In other words-the NSA wet dream.

      Are you joking?

      The NSA *want* you to go to 'forbidden' websites so they can monitor your activity and use it as blackmail material.

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    2. Re:Uggggh| by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Can I start my own internet law of when someone compares the most tyrannical governments in the world are compared to the US government? I'm not saying that there's nothing wrong with the US government, but these comparisons you people make do start to feel rather godwin-esque.

    3. Re:Uggggh| by Boronx · · Score: 1

      You're sort of right, but the push back against these guys needs to be non-stop.

    4. Re:Uggggh| by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      wake up and smell the neo-stasi morpheus

  11. Re: He is a Republican hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You mean already done. The banksters have left us all bankrupt.

  12. Re: He is a Republican hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Do? They've already done.

  13. Re: He is a Republican hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We are financially bankrupt because those Republicans are morally bankrupt.

  14. Re: He is a Republican hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And NK is more free than the US. The Republicans have certainly made things worse than they are in NK.

  15. Re: He is a Republican hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    The people in NK have more of a voice than the poor in the US.

  16. Chaos Communication Congress... by damn_registrars · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can hardly imagine a better name for a group that is analyzing an OS produced by North Korea.

    --
    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
    1. Re:Chaos Communication Congress... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Shares acronym with Chaos Computer Club.

    2. Re:Chaos Communication Congress... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Shares acronym with Chaos Computer Club.

      Perhaps because the Chaos Communication Congress is being organized by the Chaos Computer Club?

  17. Super user by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What's the name of root on this system ? Is it .. root ?

    1. Re:Super user by amiga3D · · Score: 2

      It's rootD

  18. Re: He is a Republican hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And NK is more free than the US. The Republicans have certainly made things worse than they are in NK.

    This site has gone completely liberal. It's sad considering this used to be such a good tech site.

  19. lousy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Unlike other guardian articles I've read, this one is lousy, or maybe, lazy. FTA: "including its own version of encrypting files" || "we analyzed the code, yep, it's encrypted." FTA: "visitors to the country say most machines still use Windows XP, now nearly 15 years old." how many visitors? most? some? two people? Isn't windows XP an operating system? So then is Red Star OS a VM? Is Red Star OS just a browser or VPN? FTA: Based on a version of Linux called Fedora.. what version? Many details are missing and there's certainly much more to explore on the topic.

    1. Re: lousy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good observations.

    2. Re:lousy by daniel23 · · Score: 4, Informative

      what do you expect relying on third hand infos?
      Here's to get it from the speakers themselves:

      https://events.ccc.de/congress...
      https://www.reddit.com/r/north...

      --
      605413? Yes, it's a prime.
    3. Re:lousy by jimthehorsegod · · Score: 1

      "This is a full blown operation system where they control most of the code" You might think in an article about an operating system, the journalist might have an understanding of what the subject matter at hand actually was?

  20. Innovation by Guppy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In some other country somewhere, I'm sure there there will be an official looking at this and thinking Red Star OS is a very good idea.

    1. Re:Innovation by amiga3D · · Score: 2

      Maybe we could have a Patriot Act OS version for the US. It will keep us safe from the terrorists.

    2. Re:Innovation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You do. It's called the NSA OS and its very much in use.

    3. Re:Innovation by Dcnjoe60 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Maybe we could have a Patriot Act OS version for the US. It will keep us safe from the terrorists.

      What makes you think we don't?

    4. Re:Innovation by bkmoore · · Score: 1

      In some other country somewhere, I'm sure there there will be an official looking at this and thinking Red Star OS is a very good idea.

      If the NSA were doing the job they were supposed to be doing all along, this would be the ideal distro to target for a backdoor.

    5. Re:Innovation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What makes you think we do? Some evidence perhaps? People being threatened with disclosure of their private data or internet usages by the government? Would idiotic DDS attacks aimed at major corporations be stopped and the juveniles participating identified and sent to bed without dinner? After all major corporations have enough money to get the government involved when they are attacked. Citizens being disappeared on a regular basis never to be seen from again? Computer crimes and data breaches of the CIA and other government agencies being foiled before they take place? Or even tracking down the guilty parties after the fact? The woman involved in the last mass murder attack in California had an online presence that could have raised a flag on her visa application but the people handing out visas don't check social media for an applicants presence. The pitiful racist who went into a church and started killing people until he was out of ammo also had an online presence were his views should have flagged him as a threat but the government only saw this after the attack. If the NSA or CIA or any other government agency has the super powers being attributed to them they should use them. There is no doubt if you pop up on the security agencies or other law enforcement agency radar they have the toolset needed to find you unless you live in a cave with no electricity and stay there. Although be careful with your campfire because satellites can pick up thermal images in an unpopulated landscape.

    6. Re:Innovation by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      What makes you think we do? Some evidence perhaps?

      Some evidence.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    7. Re:Innovation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The pitiful racist who went into a church and started killing people until he was out of ammo also had an online presence were his views should have flagged him as a threat but the government only saw this after the attack. If the NSA or CIA or any other government agency has the super powers being attributed to them they should use them.

      Unless, of course, the government had no intention of doing anything to stop someone who might someday give them just what they needed to try to advance their race war and/or gun confiscation agendas, and so never bothered investigating anything like that, or did, and decided to--or were ordered to--do nothing and see what happened.

    8. Re:Innovation by malditaenvidia · · Score: 2

      Windows 10?

  21. Re: He is a Republican hero by amiga3D · · Score: 1, Interesting

    It's actually the Democrats....they don't want you to have a car because cars cause global warming. It's all about saving the world dude!

  22. Re: He is a Republican hero by amiga3D · · Score: 2

    The people in NK think the poor in the US are billionaires.

  23. Re: He is a Republican hero by amiga3D · · Score: 1

    Come on man, don't you recognize sarcasm?

  24. Re: He is a Republican hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No. It is the Republicans that love North Korea.

  25. Re: He is a Republican hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Did they do did.

  26. Re: He is a Republican hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They want you to have an electric car, Dick. Nobody said robot heart.

  27. Like in USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The OS, unsurprisingly, allowed only tightly fettered access to web sites, using a whitelist approach that gives access to government-controlled or approved sites.

    so it just like in USA

    1. Re:Like in USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The OS, unsurprisingly, allowed only tightly fettered access to web sites, using a whitelist approach that gives access to government-controlled or approved sites.

      so it just like in USA

      The US government doesn't block website that the government doesn't like, but instead uses raids to knock them off the Internet for everybody, and/or ICE confiscates the domain name.

  28. Can your linux do 16 things red star does? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can capitalist linux do 16 things red star do for juche & prosperity:

    1.) Protect vs slander against worker's party of korea
    2.) Provide plentiful food compared to impoverished southern occupied korea
    3.) Promote juche
    4.) Consume food so fully that defecation is not required
    5.) Create new star and rainbow to commemorate birth of great leader
    6.) Monitor and tag all files for your benefit
    7.) Devour entire stock of giant german rabbit
    8.) Create prosperous kijong-dong
    9.) Maintain generational prison camp
    10.) Rescue southern occupied korean guard with powerful arms and drag to generous and prosperous north
    11.) Drive off constant american military incursions as reported factually in state media
    12.) Provide guided tour through museum of american atrocities
    13.) Aim giant guns at populated occupied seoul for literal decades
    14.) Have traitor devoured by dogs
    15.) Have traitor destroyed by missile
    16.) Locate unicorn lair
     
    ...dprk

    1. Re:Can your linux do 16 things red star does? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What about japanese atrocities?

    2. Re:Can your linux do 16 things red star does? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Offtopic, and you may be missing the joke! There have to be 16 things.

    3. Re: Can your linux do 16 things red star does? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Brilliant! Coren22 is now officially an Enemy of the State!

  29. Re: He is a Republican hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sarcasm is interpreted with vocal inflection, so it helps to tag inflection somehow in text messages if you want to send that message.

  30. Re: He is a Republican hero by amiga3D · · Score: 1, Funny

    No! You must take the bus! Batteries kill the environment. No car for you, public transport is where it's at.

  31. Re: He is a Republican hero by amiga3D · · Score: 1

    It has to be sarcasm. No one is that stupid.

  32. linux dummies by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    based on a version of Linux called Fedora

    you mean, like, the red hat fedora desktop distribution? good god these writers.

  33. Re: He is a Republican hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wow, if thats true then that means the poor in the developed nations must be trillionaires according to the North Koreans.

  34. Re: He is a Republican hero by KGIII · · Score: 1

    ... diddy dum diddy doo!

    Before I knew it she was walking next to me singing ...

    (I like you guys almost as much as I like apps guy and slightly less than I like cow guy.) Meh, I'll post this signed in. This karma's made for walking...

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  35. Re: He is a Republican hero by KGIII · · Score: 1

    You overestimate the intelligence of the homo sapien. Keep in mind that every single person that you have ever met, that is still alive, can probably find some way to access the internet - maybe while wearing a bib and a helmet. I find it easier to picture them wearing both, and a diaper.

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  36. Re: He is a Republican hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And NK is more free than the US. The Republicans have certainly made things worse than they are in NK.

    This site has gone completely liberal. It's sad considering this used to be such a good tech site.

    Only because of all of the uneducated idiot republicans that think they are "techies" because their mom bought them a "Puter" for christmas and they think they are hipsters now.

  37. What's the link? by Republican31 · · Score: 1

    What is the link to the site where you downloaded it?

  38. Re: He is a Republican hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If people like you weren't so opposed to social media on grounds of "privacy" you'd realize that most of them actually come across exactly like you.

    And I actually didn't ever picture you in a bib or a diaper (well ,maybe a diaper when you get a couple years older) but perhaps with a dirty ashtray full of half-burnt cigars, a bottle of not-quite-classy-but-more-expensive-than-most-people-drink whiskey. And lots of faux wood paneling on the walls.

  39. Hamburg! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Congress is in Hamburg, you insensitive clod!

  40. Re: He is a Republican hero by KGIII · · Score: 1

    Heh, no - I'm not against Facebook on the grounds of privacy. I choose to not share there because they will work really hard to monitor my use and market specifically to me. They also tie into a bunch of other sites so could then track my usage even more. I'm not opposed to Facebook, per se. I'm opposed to Facebook for me - personally. You can, if you want, make use of their services.

    *sighs* Unfortunately, there is faux wood paneling in this house. I've never bothered to redecorate it - I bought it with everything in it and have added/changed very little. In fact, it gets worse. It has fake Western ranch style decorations.

    Other than that, I seldom drink any more. (Note: I did not say I was sober, just that I seldom drink.) But, I was always partial to rum or beer. Though I did spend a lot of time with peppermint schnapps. And I'd suspect my buying habits mimic your anticipations. Nice, not the best, and probably more expensive than I could have found.

    The ashtray is not quite correct. I'm a bit anal about not having more than one or two stubs in it. I wash 'em out in the sink and grab a new one and replace them often. But I have been known to get distracted and end up with more stubs than there should be so I guess that's fairly accurate. Err... There's fake paneling in the house in Henderson, now that I think about it. The upstairs is covered with it. It looks like a redecorating job done by someone on a combination of OCD medications and LSD - all with 1970s styles in mind and 1990s appliances. I should do something about that.

    But, there's no paneling when I'm home. Well, no fake wood grain paneling. There's gypsum board and exposed beams because I am that tacky. But no wood paneling. So, there's that.

    As mentioned elsewhere - I'm not really against Facebook but I do have a problem with their attempts to track me - as a non-user. I see their scripts and cookies everywhere. I block it. If I a privacy zealot then I'd not have shared things like my full name, my address, what I'm doing, and things of that nature. I do all of that right here on Slashdot.

    Hell, I have regular off-site conversations via email and chat, I've sent hardware to other Slashdotters, I've met them in real life, and I've even sent money to a Slashdotter at one point. (It wasn't a loan, they were just having some financial issues and needed a break.) So, no... I'd not say that it was privacy on-site that bothers me but their attempt to track me off-site is bothersome.

    Actually, I've made the argument that Slashdot is every bit a social media site - complete with user generated content, a friends list, tracked conversations, ability to collaborate, and more. No, I'm against Facebook for me. You're free to use it. Have fun with that. I do dislike being tagged in photographs which is privacy related. I don't like that they probably have a fake profile of me but that's not me so I don't really care that much. It's not like I'm anonymous. There are a few people who use my moniker and one person who has pretended to be me (that I know of).

    So no, there are some privacy concerns but there's general behaviors that I dislike that are not limited to just Facebook. I'm pretty much content with just blocking their cookies and scripts. I don't join because there's no value added by doing so. I already have enough friends, I meet them in real life. I already have a social life and I don't need new editions. I already can schedule, contact, share, create, and opine on a variety of subjects - and I can do so with some value of anonymity. I'm not so much anti-Facebook but more anti-Facebook for me.

    I dare say that I've never indicated anything more than that. A careful reading of my posts should indicate the same sentiment. What you elect to do and how you elect to do it, so long as it's not causing demonstrable harm, is pretty much good by me - not that you need my blessing. Perhaps you have me confused or perhaps I have worded something that might not be articulated well enough.

    I'm not the guy who's

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  41. Hamburg! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Congress is in Hamburg, not Berlin, you insensitive clod! No power to vegan spread of misinformstion!

  42. The article, and the video attached... by farrellj · · Score: 1

    It's an interesting article...but the video linked to it is by someone who is fairly clueless about Linux. As it's well know that Red Star OS is Linux, the video's creator should have at least taken the time to learn more about Linux so that he could comment competently on Red Star. Disappointing.

    --
    CAN-CON 2019 - Ottawa's only book oriented Science Fiction Convention! October 18-20, Sheraton Hotel, Ottawa, Canada h
  43. One question by johnsnails · · Score: 1

    Can it play crysis?
    Yes but its been modded so the NK's are powning the Americans

  44. Re: He is a Republican hero by TangoMargarine · · Score: 1

    Well, since the exchange rate from USD to North Korean wons is 1:900, all we need is 1.1 million each to be a billionaire in NK.

    --
    Unity? Screw that: XFCE. Slashdot Beta? Screw that: SoylentNews. Australis? Screw that: Pale Moon. UX developers DIAF
  45. Re: He is a Republican hero by uninformedLuddite · · Score: 1

    It might have taken two decades but I actually bought something from a targeted ad.

    --
    The new right fascists are bilingual. They speak English and Bullshit.
  46. Re: He is a Republican hero by KGIII · · Score: 1

    I've searched and then followed the ads at the top of Google when I was looking for a product. I'm not actually sure but I've probably bought something from there.

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  47. Re: He is a Republican hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We're building a house and having some drain problems. I did a few drain searches and got an ad for an endoscope that plugs onto my Note 4 for $12. I couldn't resist. This is luddite. I got logged out and cannot log back in for some reason.

  48. Re: He is a Republican hero by KGIII · · Score: 1

    Hah! I bought something like that to look inside engines. It was a bit more pricey at the time but it was a trivial expense. I was actually kind of shocked at how cheap it was.

    I don't know as that was a targeted ad - I was looking at tools and "customers who bought ____ also bought _____" made me click something, I clicked a few more things, and then eventually I found that and bought it. I got one with a light, it works better than I'd expected it to.

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  49. Size Matters by Gob+Gob · · Score: 1

    like his father, has been photographed near Macs.

    like his father, has been photographed near Big Macs. Lots of them

  50. Re: He is a Republican hero by cwsumner · · Score: 1

    Never use sarcasm on the internet, it is -always- misinterpreted. So you end up with people thinking that you are not clever at all...