UBUNTU 12.04 LTS beats Windows 7,MAC @ GCHQ Report

1.    Now this is some good news for all Ubuntu lovers.Ubuntu 12.04 LTS has topped a UK security agency’s security assessment of mobile and desktop operating systems.CESG (originally Communications-Electronics Security Group) is the group within GCHQ(an intelligence and security organization, working to keep Britain safe and secure in the challenging environment of IT communications).CESG conducted a series of tests in the last few months to review a set of 11 operating systems which currently run on various devices such as desktops, laptops, servers, mobile phones and tablets. The security assessment included the following categories:

    - VPN
    - Disk Encryption
    - Authentication
    - Secure Boot
    - Platform Integrity and Application Sandboxing
    - Application Whitelisting
    - Malicious Code Detection and Prevention
    - Security Policy Enforcement
    - External Interface Protection
    - Device Update Policy
    - Event Collection for Enterprise Analysis
    - Incident Response

2.   Ubuntu 12.04 LTS is the only operating system to fully pass 9 of the 12 listed security recommendations above.Ubuntu was marked down on VPN and encryption because its implementation/software has yet to be independently assessed by an approved CESG body.The VPN issue is likely to be addressed in the UBUNTU 14.04 LTS thats likely arrival date is somewhere in Apr 2014...ie in another about two months from now.

3.    The list of operating systems which were compared are mentioned below :

- Windows 7/8
- Android 4.2
- Samsung devices with Android 4.2
- Apple iOS6
- Apple OSX 10.8
- Blackberry 10.1(EMM Corporate)
- Blackberry 10.1(EMM Regulate)
- Google Chrome OS 26
- Windows 8 RT
- Windows Phone 8

4.  What Canonical has to say about this

“We are working hard to close the gap and make Ubuntu clearly stand out as the most trustworthy operating system for the future and we hope to make excellent progress before our next LTS release in April 2014, 14.04 LTS, which will be even better,” Darryl Weaver, Canonical Sales Engineer

5.  Few screen shots from web with this news :

6.   Source of news as above...thanks http://www.zdnet.com

Dual Boot Mobile Phone : Ubuntu and Android

1.   Any time we speak about dual boot,it is a understood fact that we are speaking about a desktop or a laptop device...but what if there is a third answer to this....a MOBILE Phone!!!!!surprise surprise surprise..:-)...read on for what’s  in store ahead...

2.    Well...the first time I read about this concept...that says like you have the typical android OS for being used as a smart phone but in addition you can boot the same device with UBUNTU to get the desktop experience as u insert it in the dock....I was excited to know more and few facts after googling have emerged out as bought out below.

3.  The first Ubuntu smartphone has been announced by Canonical . Under the project code named Ubuntu Edge,the phone has almost everything that we don’t normally see.But first, Canonical wants to raise $32 million (21.5 million pounds) on Indiegogo to build this. The company is asking prospective consumers to put in money for it to make an Ubuntu phone and it is hoping to do it in 31 days.  At the time of writing this, it had already raised over $12,814,196.Details at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ubuntu-edge



4.  The phone is likely to go on sale in May 2014 and the brief specs out are as follows :

    Dual boot Ubuntu mobile OS and Android
    Fully integrated Ubuntu desktop PC when docked
    Fastest multi-core CPU, 4GB RAM, 128GB storage
    4.5in 1,280 x 720 HD sapphire crystal display
    8MP low-light rear camera, 2MP front camera
    Dual-LTE, dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4, NFC
    GPS, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, compass, barometer
    Stereo speakers with HD audio, dual-mic recording, Active Noise Cancellation
    MHL connector, 3.5mm jack
    Silicon-anode Li-Ion battery
    Form Factor : 64 x 9 x 124mm

3.   Not just Android with Ubuntu,infact Microsoft has approached HTC with a plan to load Windows Phone 8 onto its Android handsets as a way to give consumers more than one platform option on their devices. In exchange for loading Windows Phone onto Android handsets, Microsoft would consider waiving licensing fees for using the mobile operating system, Amazingly, HTC is apparently warm to the idea and is pondering the logistics of making a dual-boot Windows-Android handset.

4.  So it is a welcome concept overall.But then from a security point of view the user will have to handle two attack surfaces in form of the two boot options.More details at the following links :

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ubuntu-edge