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WHO WE ARE • We’re exploring the world of hacking, but when you’re away from your PC and your black hacking hoodie, what’s your best life hack to make for a better day?

Cyber insecurity

Google vs Oracle enters the endgame • The US Supreme Court could rule against Google’s claim that APIs aren’t copyrighted and doom us all!

CUPS gets forked • The open source printing system that’s used in macOS and Linux looks on shaky ground – but there’s still hope…

OTF firings ruled illegal • US Agency for Global Media’s bid to sack officers questioned.

BREAKING THE CYCLE

TYPO TAOISM

Vote for the apps you want on Librem 5 • Site launched to help fund requested apps for the Librem 5 smartphone.

PineBook delays • LCD shortages are holding up manufacture of the laptop.

Pro1-X announced • Could this be the open-source heir to the Blackberry?

Distro watch • What’s down the side of the free software sofa?

OPEN SUCCESS

IT’S NOT UNUSUAL

Kernel Watch • Jon Masters summarises the latest happenings in the Linux kernel, so you don’t have to.

ONGOING DEVELOPMENT

Answers • Got a burning question about open source or the kernel? Whatever your level, email it to lxf.answers@futurenet.com

A QUICK REFERENCE TO… RAID

GET HELP NOW!

Mailserver • Write to us at Linux Format, Future Publishing, Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA or lxf.letters@futurenet.com.

LETTER OF THE MONTH

AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT • A last gasp from AMD’s Zen 2 architecture leaves Alan Dexter both underwhelmed and hotter than normal under the collar.

KaOS 2020.09 • Because he lacks the time, patience and, frankly, the skills to install Arch, Mayank Sharma is always looking for options that will make the task easier.

Quark 20.04 • There’s something about distros that mimic the Windows desktop which piques Mayank Sharma’s curiosity…

Open Media Vault 5.5.11 • Intrigued by Jonni’s advice to install Plex via Docker on his NAS, Mayank Sharma wonders what more he can do with this specialised distro.

FossaPup64 9.5 • It took Mayank Sharma some time to wrap his head around the name of this release, which is how it usually is with Puppy Linux.

Crusader Kings 3 • Management might love The King, but they do have suspicious minds and feel caught in a trap hearing Fraser Brown’s plans to get them all shook up.

Hacker distributions • Fend off the digital bad guys with Mayank Sharma as he hunts for the perfect Linux distribution to ramp up his cyber-arsenal.

HOW WE TESTED…

Customisations • How are they more than just a collection of applications?

Tools arsenal • Are these hacker distributions adequately equipped for the job?

Help and support • For those times when you need some hand-holding.

Workflow • Do you need a licence to operate them?

Platform support • Where can you run the distro?

Other uses • Can these hacker distributions also ensure privacy or security?

Daily driver • Do they work as everyday desktops?

Hacker distros The Verdict

ALSO CONSIDER…

HACKER’S MANUAL • Join our resident security expert Jonni...