Issue579
WORK IN PROGRESS
Welcome to the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue 579 for the week of May 12 - 18, 2019.
In this Issue
Ubuntu Stats
Bug Stats
- Open: # (+/-#)
- Critical: # (+/-#)
- Unconfirmed: # (+/-#)
As always, the Bug Squad needs more help. If you want to get started, please see: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/BugSquad
Translations
Hot in Support
Ask Ubuntu Top 5 Questions
Ask (and answer!) questions at: https://askubuntu.com/
Ubuntu Forums Top 5 Threads
Find more support at: https://ubuntuforums.org/
LoCo News
LoCo Events
The following LoCo team events are currently scheduled in the next two weeks:
Looking beyond the next two weeks? Visit the LoCo Team Portal to browse upcoming events around the world: http://loco.ubuntu.com/events/
The Hub
A couple of snap updates
Alan Griffiths (alan_g) tells us of his continuing efforts to polish mir-test-tools. Now it's possible for the user to log in and for "Mir to negotiate access to the hardware with logind.". The experiment with egmde-confined-desktop snap is a proof-of-concept. Alan provides directions to install and implement the confined snap with screenshots of results.
https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/a-couple-of-snap-updates/10936
The Planet
Plasma 5.15.90 (Plasma 5.16 Beta) Available for Testing
The Kubuntu Team announces the release and availability of Plasma 5.15.90 for 19.04 and 19.10. The 19.04 update is in the Kubuntu PPA while the updated version is included in 19.10 daily build. Testing is requested, with means provided to give your results. A link is provided to the changelog to review the changes.
https://kubuntu.org/news/plasma-5-15-90-plasma-5-16-beta-available-for-testing/
Canonical News
Ubuntu updates to mitigate new Microarchitectural Data Sampling (MDS) vulnerabilities - https://blog.ubuntu.com/2019/05/14/ubuntu-updates-to-mitigate-new-microarchitectural-data-sampling-mds-vulnerabilities
Introduction to snapcraft - https://blog.ubuntu.com/2019/05/16/introduction-to-snapcraft
In the Press
Ubuntu 19.04: The Disco Dingo arrives and will really make your IT dept. happy
Scott Gilbertson gives a glowing report of the changes and added supports in the 19.04 release. Though extolling the desktop experience, emphasis is on developers for support in infrastructure, dev tools, and the Internet of Things. Scott expresses his opinion that "it's becoming a more developer-focused distro."
In the Blogosphere
MDS: The Newest Speculative Execution Side-Channel Vulnerability
Michael Larabel reports on the latest disclosure, Microarchitectural Data Sampling (MDS), a speculative execution side channel vulnerability. Michael quotes Microsoft in relating what the affected hardware is and the impact. We are advised of Updated microcode files and that Linux kernel patches are in the offing; all are encouraged to update systems.
https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Microarch-Data-Sampling
A Slew Of Stable Kernel Updates Issued For Addressing MBS / Zombieload Vulnerabilities
Michael Larabel informs us that due to the discovered MDS vulnerabilities affecting x86 processors, new Linux Kernels with patches have been released; noting that all users with processors made since 2011 should upgrade. Links are provided.
https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MDS-Kernel-Fixes
Canonical Releases Ubuntu Updates to Mitigate New MDS Security Vulnerabilities
Marius Nestor tells us Canonical have released updates for all supported Ubuntu releases to mitigate MDS vulnerabilities. Intel has released new firmware upgrades but new Linux Kernel patches are required too. Covering four CVEs, there is also a Canonical recommendation to disable SMT as it complicates the flaws. New live patches were also released for Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, Ubuntu 16.04 LTS & Ubuntu 14.04 ESM, with version numbers of patched kernels & microcode provided.
KDE Plasma 5.16 Desktop Environment Enters Beta with Many Enhancements
Marius Nestor writes that the KDE Project have released the beta version of KDE Plasma 5.16 desktop with its revamped notifications system. The final KDE Plasma 5.16 release is expected 11 June 2019, however this time there is a wallpaper contest. A KDE-powered Slimbook One v2 computer is the prize if your wallpaper wins, details are provided, along with many photos.
Xfdesktop 4.13.4 Released On The Road To Xfce 4.14 Possibly This August
Michael Larabel informs on the release of Xfce's Xfdesktop 4.13.4. Michael notes the restoration of icon placement, improvements in the clipboard as well as other fixes. In the look ahead for the final Xfce 4.14 release in August is an expectation of ports from GTK2 to GTK3, accessing GDBUS, and other changes.
https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Xfdesktop-4.13.4-Released
In Other News
Other Articles of Interest
8 Ways To Contribute To The Desktop Linux Community, Without Knowing A Single Line Of Code - https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2019/05/13/8-ways-contribute-desktop-linux-community-marketing-documentation-art-testing/#60dcb0804df8
The Performance Impact Of MDS / Zombieload Plus The Overall Cost Now Of Spectre/Meltdown/L1TF/MDS - https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=mds-zombieload-mit
Featured Audio and Video
Ubuntu Security Podcast: Episode 31
"This week we cover security fixes for GNOME Shell, FFmpeg, Sudo, Ghostscript and others, and we talk to Joe McManus about malicious Dockerhub images, Git repos being ransomed more."
https://ubuntusecuritypodcast.org/episode-31/
Ubuntu Podcast from the UK LoCo: S12E06 – International Karate+
"This week we have been moving servers, discuss the recently announced Librem One services, bring you some command line love and go over your feedback."
http://ubuntupodcast.org/2019/05/16/s12e06-international-karate/
Meeting Reports
Desktop Team – 13 May 2019 - https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/monday-13th-may-2019/10842
Server Team – 15 May 2019 - https://blog.ubuntu.com/2019/05/15/ubuntu-server-development-summary-15-may-2019
Upcoming Meetings and Events
For more details and farther dates please visit: http://fridge.ubuntu.com/calendars/
Updates and Security for 14.04, 16.04, 18.04, 18.10, and 19.04
Security Updates
Ubuntu 14.04 Updates
End of Life: April 2019
Ubuntu 16.04 Updates
End of Life: April 2021
Ubuntu 18.04 Updates
End of Life: April 2023
Ubuntu 18.10 Updates
End of Life: July 2019
Ubuntu 19.04 Updates
End of Life: January 2020
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Archive
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Further News
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Conclusion
Thank you for reading the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter.
See you next week!
Credits
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Glossary of Terms
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