The Smart Package Manager makes everyday tasks of handling RPM and DEB packages simple but has a full set of controls for experts.

The GNU project hasn't given up on the venerable Hurd project, and this long-running GNU Free OS project has recently received a burst of new energy with the release of a new Debian port.

The DVD attached to this issue brings you a pair of the world’s most popular Linux distributions. Mint 15 “Olivia” is the latest release from the ever-friendly Linux Mint, a desktop distro based on Debian and Ubuntu that keeps the emphasis on simplicity and ease of use. Mint tops the DistroWatch downloads list and describes itself as: “The 4th most popular home operating system after Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS, and Canonical’s Ubuntu.”

News

• US gov embraces open data
• Apache Cdorked.A exploit discovered
• News Bites

New Intel CEO

• FSF scolds W3C
• Torvalds releases Kernel 3.9
• Xen new LF collaboration project

Operating Systems

• Debian 7.0“wheezy” debuts
• Windows XP most likely to be victim of attack.

Security-conscious people dig a deep moat with crocodiles around their homes, hide their furniture in back rooms, and only let visitors into the bathroom if they know the secret password. Grsecurity follows a similarly extreme principle.