My mastodon feed is full of IT security specialist talking about the xz affair where someone let a backdoor in some library.

But beside showing the two side of Free/Libre software (anybody can add a backdoor, and anybody can spot it), I have no idea how it impacts the average person. Is it a common library or something used only by specific application ? Would my home-grade router protects me ?

  • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
    83·
    7 months ago

    I don’t even understand what anyone in this thread is saying.

    That’s not an invitation, please don’t explain Linux to me.

    I’m just saying this means nothing for average people.

    • hperrin@lemmy.world
      7·
      7 months ago

      It could have meant a lot to the average person if it wasn’t caught. If this was some adversary, they could have used it to cripple critical infrastructure in the largest cyber attack in history.

      Luckily it was caught before this software was rolled out to really anything that should be in prod.

      • leave_it_blank@lemmy.world
        3·
        7 months ago

        Isn’t that this Windows imitation I sometimes hear about?

        (I have a death wish I guess)

        But on a serious side: I need an easy to use Linux system next year for my parents who are not very tech savvy. Do you have a recommendation for easy use that feels like Windows? It will only be used for browsing, open office and stuff.