Innehållsförteckning för January 2026 från Linux Magazine

Dear Reader, When I heard that an AI-generated song called “Walk My Walk” [1] had climbed to number one on the country music chart, I knew that it was my professional responsibility as an IT journalist to tune it in and listen. I should clarify – despite the reports on social media, the song isn’t exactly the most popular country song in the world. It rose to number one on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart [2], which means it is number one for people who still buy and download digital copies of songs. For the people who get their music on Spotify and other streaming platforms (which is most people today), the song isn’t even in the running. Still, to rise that high on any kind of chart, the…

It was only a matter of time before one of the major enterprise Linux players would jump onto the agentic AI bandwagon, and that player is SUSE. Via the Cockpit web-based admin tool and the command line, users can enable automated monitoring, troubleshooting, and performance optimizations. SUSE Enterprise Linux (SLES) 16 will be able to work with the Model Context Protocol to provide host and server AI integration, enable AI to manage the operating system, connect to any large language model provider, and help with insights and automation. SLES 16 will also have one of the longest support windows of any OS on the market with 16 years. You’ll also find SLES 16 is created with reproducible builds, so your organization can verify that the production binary perfectly matches the…

That’s right, Fedora fans, the latest iteration of your favorite Linux distribution, Fedora 43, has been announced on this post: https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/devel@lists.fedoraproject.org/thread/SMT2UTV4EUW6JYAXEQWWEK7DK-TXJBY7B/. This new release will use kernel 6.17, include Gnome 49, and include a vast number of updates and enhancements. You’ll get improvements to the Anaconda Web UI installer for Fedora spins, Wayland-only support for Gnome, DNF5, new default wallpapers, RPM 6.0, major toolchain upgrades (such as GCC 15.2, Binutils 2.45, glibc 2.42, and GDB 17.1), Python sees an update to version 3.14, LLVM 21, improved font handling, automatic updates enabled by default in Fedora Kinoite, support for the Hare programming language, and more. You’ll also find that AMD Ryzen systems will benefit from smarter workload distributions via the new Hardware Feedback Interface (HFI), and hybrid laptops gain much-improved battery…

If you’re not a fan of Ubuntu but you like the idea of Linux Mint, you have an option: Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE). This take on Linux Mint eschews Ubuntu in favor of the “Mother Of All Distributions,” Debian. LMDE 7 (aka “Gigi”) is very similar to standard Linux Mint, but uses Debian 13 as its foundation. With this release, you also get the latest version of Cinnamon (from Linux Mint 22.2 “Zara”) and LTS kernel 6.12. The latest Cinnamon desktop also gets integrated fingerprint recognition, improved libadwaita compatibility, OEM install support (so hardware manufacturers can pre-install the operating system), a new/tmp behavior (temporary files are stored in RAM), a refined user interface, the inclusion of APT 3.0, core application upgrades, and more. There are caveats to consider with…

Brute-force attacks on Secure Shell (SSH) have existed for over a decade, yet they remain one of the most common and dangerous attack vectors on Linux systems today. In 2025, attackers are not guessing passwords manually; they are using automated botnets that scan and break into thousands of servers at a time with industrial speed. One example is the recently discovered PumaBot, a botnet written in Go and designed specifically to infect Linux-based devices, including cloud virtual machines (VMs), personal servers, and even embedded systems. PumaBot uses SSH brute-force techniques to compromise devices and then links them together in a wider network, giving attackers access to computing power, storage, and Internet bandwidth for malicious purposes. The botnet targets devices with open SSH ports and either weak or default credentials. Once…

When you run Linux on a PC or notebook you’re used to using a boot manager that lets you select the operating system (OS). Many Linux users like to set up their computer as a dual-boot or multiboot system with more than one OS. The default boot manager in the Linux world, GRUB [1], lets you select a default OS that starts when you don’t interfere with the boot process. You may be used to installing Linux on a computer that came out of the factory with a pre-installed Windows version: The Linux distribution’s installer program will repartition the hard drive, organize disk space for Linux, install the Linux kernel and all the tools and applications, and then configure and install GRUB. The next time you boot the machine, you…

Checking the numbers Recently I met with a group of students who were trying to “upgrade” some Android computers to run GNU/ Linux. They were trying to use a general Linux distribution that was ARM based to run on these small boxes and were having troubles. They would put the distribution on one box and the USB keyboard and mouse wouldn’t work. Then they put the same distribution on another box, and while the USB keyboard and mouse would work, the video wouldn’t work at all. On a third box, the video, mouse, and keyboard would work, but the storage wouldn’t show up. They didn’t know what was going on. The model numbers of all of the boxes were the same. Why wouldn’t the distribution work across all of them?…

Sparkling gems and new releases from the world of Free and Open Source Software Open Source Isn’t a Threat! I’ve always felt that one of the best aspects of Linux is that its communities are (by and large) extremely welcoming and eager to share updates and tips on how to optimize software. This task has been made increasingly difficult by some big social media platforms, as illustrated, for example, by the October post from It’s FOSS News saying that the It’s FOSS Community Telegram group (set up by It’s FOSS) had disappeared. The writer reports that, in trying to figure out the issue, It’s FOSS discovered a message from Telegram’s Spam Info Bot claiming that some users had flagged the group’s content as illegal. The channel in question was moderated…

#301/December 2025 Cron vs. Systemd Timers You’ve been automating with cron for years, but is this the time to break old habits? Systemd offers additional options for setting timers, and it really isn’t as complicated as it looks. This month we compare the old and new. On the DVD: AlmaLinux 10.0 Minimal and openSUSE Leap 16.0 #300/November 2025 – Celebrating 25 Years Create a Linux Virus Linux has built up some strong defenses through the years, but the top virus writers still have some tricks for getting in. If you want to keep your systems safe, you’d better learn to think like a virus. On the DVD: Linux From Scratch 12.4 and Debian 13.1 “trixie” #299/October 2025 Auditing Today’s cybercriminals have sneaky techniques for hijacking system files and system calls.…

Linux Magazine is looking for authors to write articles on Linux and the tools of the Linux environment. We like articles on useful solutions that solve practical problems. The topic could be a desktop tool, a commandline utility, a network monitoring application, a homegrown script, or anything else with the potential to save a Linux user trouble and time. Our goal is to tell our readers stories they haven’t already heard, so we’re especially interested in original fixes and hacks, new tools, and useful applications that our readers might not know about. We also love articles on advanced uses for tools our readers do know about – stories that take a traditional application and put it to work in a novel or creative way. We are currently seeking articles on…

Another Linux Malware Discovered Curly COMrade – a Russian hacking group that’s been active since 2024 and is aligned with Russian political movements – has been abusing the Microsoft Hyper-V within Windows to bypass detection by creating a virtual machine (VM) based on Alpine Linux to deploy malware. The VM only uses 120MB of disk space and 256MB of memory, making it less detectable. Once the VM has been deployed, the malware uses the CurlyShell reverse shell and the CurlCat reverse proxy for stealth and communication. According to Bitdefender (https://businessinsights.bitdefender.com/curly-comrades-evasion-persistence-hidden-hyper-v-virtual-machines), “By isolating the malware and its execution environment within a VM, the attackers effectively bypassed many traditional host-based EDR [endpoint detection and response] detections. EDR needs to be complemented by host-based network inspection to detect C2 traffic escaping the VM,…

Linux Magazine www.linux-magazine.com ADMIN Online http://www.admin-magazine.com/ Monitoring Tools for Admins • Jeff Layton Monitoring tools can help you better understand your applications. Managing Config Files • Thorsten Scherf The GNU Stow tool in combination with Ansible can help you manage configuration files. Remote Access with Tactical RMM • Martin Loschwitz Tactical RMM offers a combination of remote monitoring and management, with agents to support Linux, macOS, and Windows. Open Source Ticket System • Tobias Bück OTOBO, a ticket system designed to handle complex service requirements, offers an easy-to-use support tool with Active Directory integration and single sign-on. Bootable OS Images with Podman • Thorsten Scherf The bootc project lets you use a container-based workflow to create bootable operating system images. In a few simple steps, we show you how to…

There’s a new version of KDE’s Plasma in town, and it’s got plenty to offer. Even before you see the latest version of the desktop, Plasma is already improving user experience. The new KDE Initial System Setup (KISS) tool, designed specifically for OEM installations, lets you configure the Plasma Desktop to your specifications on first boot. While the new rounded window corners using the Breeze decoration might not be a game changer, they certainly add a bit more polish to an already beautiful desktop environment. Other enhancements include the new ink-level display for supported printers, improved tone mapping for HDR content, a grayscale mode that desaturates all colors, support for the XDG Wallpaper portal, and improved Wayland support (such as activating/raising windows, improved screenreader, and the ability to activate Sleep,…

Rust Formatting Issues As the Rust world integrates more and more into Linux kernel development, and as Linux moves away from being a C-only software project, it’s inevitable that we’ll see various conflicts and discoveries, as both groups continue to get used to each other. At this point, it seems very unlikely that Linus will ever change his mind about Rust and decide to rip it all out of the kernel and go back to C exclusively. He’s clearly seen something in this new language that he likes more than any other that he’s considered letting into the kernel through the years, including C++. That said, there’s still a lot of handshaking and handholding to be done before the situation normalizes. This time around, Dave Airlie submitted a massive merge…

Makers are delighted with the huge selection of miniature boards, as this gives them access to a broad range of different breakouts. The processor is the most important selection criterion. Although Raspberry Pi’s RP2040 is no longer new, it is cheaper than its successor, the RP2350 [1], and the RP2040’s speed and memory are fine for many requirements. The main memory goes hand in hand with the processor. The RP2040 has a standard 256KB, while the RP2350 has at least 520KB. The newer MCU lets you supplement the built-in RAM with external Pseudostatic RAM (PSRAM), whose content is volatile and is lost when the operating voltage is switched off. Although PSRAM is slower than the main memory, it’s still far faster than flash. That is why there are also RP2350…

Installing software on Debian-based distributions is usually straightforward thanks to package managers such as APT. However, when dealing with standalone Debian (.deb) files, things can get tricky, especially when dependencies are involved. This is where GDebi comes in. GDebi is a lightweight package installer designed to handle. deb files efficiently, ensuring all required dependencies are resolved before installation. Unlike dpkg, which simply installs a package without checking for missing dependencies, GDebi fetches and installs them automatically, making the process smoother and more reliable. In this article, I will explore what makes GDebi a useful tool, how it works, and why it remains a handy utility for Debian and Ubuntu users, even in the age of APT and graphical software centers. Installation and Setup Installing GDebi is a simple process, because…

Without a tool to help you remember your household chores and other tasks, you’re bound to forget something occasionally. Some tasks need to be performed weekly, monthly, or just once a year. A program that tracks your tasks and sends reminders is invaluable. Countless solutions exist for this purpose. If you’re looking for one you can run on your own server with an intuitive web interface, Donetick [1] is an appealing option. Beneath its attractive interface, which is also easy to use on mobile devices, lie advanced features including recurring tasks, priorities, user groups, and an API for integration with other software. In this article, I’ll install Donetick on a Debian 13 (“Trixie”) server with Docker Compose and explore the capabilities of this handy tool to bring order to your…

Users, developers, and vendors meet at Linux events around the world. We at Linux Magazine are proud to sponsor the Featured Events shown here. For other events near you, check our extensive events calendar online at https://www.linux-magazine.com/events. If you know of another Linux event you would like us to add to our calendar, please send a message with all the details to info@linux-magazine.com. Kickstart Europe Date: February 3-4, 2026 Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands Website: https://www.kickstartconf.eu/ Kickstart Europe has established itself as the premier European data center event to commence the year. Held annually in Amsterdam, it brings together industry leaders to discuss trends and investments in digital infrastructure. SCaLE 23x Date: March 5-8, 2026 Location: Pasadena, California Website: https://www.socallinuxexpo.org/scale/23x SCALE is North America’s largest community-run open source conference and will return to the…

Also inside: Analyzing Infrastructure with Shodan Seccomp: Lock down a Linux process to ward off exploits Plane Spotting via Radio Signals Classic Game Engine Remakes And much more! Please note: Articles could change before the next issue. BE THE FIRST TO SEE WHAT’S NEXT The Linux Magazine Preview is a monthly email newsletter that gives you a sneak peek at the next issue, including links to articles posted online. Sign up at: https://bit.ly/Linux-Update…

If you’re looking for a new laptop that can do some heavy lifting, TUXEDO Computers might have exactly what you need. The InfinityBook Max 15 is a 15-inch ultrabook that packs a powerful punch. The base model features an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU and a GeForce RTX 5060, an IPS display at 2560x1600, and a 300Hz refresh rate – this laptop is ready to rock. You can upgrade the InfinityBook 15 Max up to a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU and a GeForce RTX 5070 GPU. You’ll get dual DDR5-5600 slots for up to 128GB of RAM and two PCIe 4.0x4 SSD bays for up to 8TB of storage. The cooling system uses dual fans with adjustable TGP levels and can handle up to 150W of CPU/GPU…

If you’re a gamer and you’re looking to finally get away from Windows, that time is now. Thanks to Steam and Wine, nearly 90 percent of Windows games can now be played on Linux (https://www.reddit.com/r/linux4noobs/comments/1oikr7b/nearly_90_of_windows_games_now_run_on_linux/). That’s nine in 10 games, which is a huge milestone for the open source operating system, as well as yet another barrier to entry removed. Before you get too excited, you should be warned that not every game runs to perfection on Linux with Wine or Steam. You can check out the Wine application database (https://appdb.winehq.org/) to see how well the game you want to run works. You also need to consider your hardware, but that’s no different than macOS or Windows. This announcement was first made public by Tom’s Hardware (https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/nearly-90-percent-of-windows-games-now-run-on-linux-latest-data-shows-as-windows-10-dies-gaming-on-linux-is-more-viable-than-ever), which pointed to…

From the office of “Please say this is an early April Fools’ joke” comes a user (onechroma) who has reported (https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/1oad1m6/xubuntu_website_got_hacked_and_is_serving_malware/) that the Xubuntu download site was serving up a malicious. zip file. After clicking the Download button on the site, the user claimed the file Xubuntu-Safe-Download. zip was offered instead of the expected ISO file. The file was flagged as a Trojan by VirusTotal (https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/0f59f553fcfac3cac07aa7986eac914be069a6dd407b2d9f761f11d3e865b4f6). In the report on Reddit, onechroma states that the malicious file was a crypto clipper that was designed to hijack crypto transactions by replacing the innocent victim’s wallet address with that of the attacker. Fortunately, after 12 hours, the Xubuntu team deleted the file and has temporarily disabled redirects to avoid further issues. The report also speculates that the malware was written via AI.…

How many times have you typed a command in the shell (e.g., cp) and wanted to use a file that is lying around somewhere as a parameter (e.g., a screenshot you recently saved in the Desktop/directory)? Now, you could type ~/Desktop/and try to find the latest file there using shell completion, but it’s even easier using the file grabbers presented in this issue. While you’re still typing, a character-oriented user interface (terminal user interface or TUI) pops up in response to a hotkey. It contains a list from which shell enthusiasts can select a file path without taking their fingers off the keyboard in order to seamlessly return to the now completed command line. In Figure 1, the user types ls -lh and then wants to attach a file from…