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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.

44 of 98 comments (clear)

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

    In North Korea Fedora Forks You

  2. 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.

  3. 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 malditaenvidia · · Score: 1

      No need, google already tracks everything you do.

    2. 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
    3. 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.

    4. 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.
  4. 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.

  5. 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/

  6. 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
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.

  10. 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 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?

    3. 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.

    4. 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."
    5. Re:Innovation by malditaenvidia · · Score: 2

      Windows 10?

  11. 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!

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

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

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

    Come on man, don't you recognize sarcasm?

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

    It's rootD

  15. 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.
  16. Re:Uggggh| by Boronx · · Score: 1

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

  17. 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.

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

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

  19. 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.

  20. 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?

  21. 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."
  22. 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."
  23. What's the link? by Republican31 · · Score: 1

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

  24. 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."
  25. 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
  26. One question by johnsnails · · Score: 1

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

  27. 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
  28. 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.
  29. 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."
  30. 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."
  31. 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

  32. 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...