hacktolive.org

So… it as come to my attention that some websites are spreading misinformation (lies?) about Super OS. This post pretty much only refutes some unfunded accusations, so this probably is not interesting to 99% of readers…

Let’s start the fun…

First website: http://oshelpdesk.org/?p=1423 (translation: by google / by babelfish)

This site starts by saying:

“Super OS” or “Super Ubuntu” are unofficial imitation versions of Ubuntu”

Imitation? It is a remastered version of Ubuntu! I think the concept is quite different…

Continuing:

“What you get is just an unnecessarily bloated programs with Ubuntu version, the software provides, you probably do not need – and possibly the safety of the system at risk”

Yeah, bloated! who needs codecs and all that bloat? ASCII movies are the way to go! I bet you will love when I make “Super OS Mega-bloated Edition”! Regarding the security… could you please explain without spreading FUD?

Now this started getting fun:

“As you Ubuntu Forum Users can read, it has pre-installed Wine with Internet Explorer, QuickTime, and other fun delivered”

WOW! The distro I make (and over which I have total control) includes apps I did not even put there! wow, that’s awesome! I guess it’s some Ubuntu feature that adds Microsoft software… you know… just to help poor Microsoft to gain some deserved marked share… Seriously: What I think that happened: the user in that forum was just saying he had the option to install Internet Explorer and QuickTime on Wine-doors, something that was distorted later. Fact: Super OS does not include, and never included (not even when it had other names) Internet Explorer or QuickTime.

He/she then continues the rant:

“Why do we need an Internet Explorer with Wine when Firefox, Opera and many other browsers, can simply be installed? why QuickTime on wine when you can just install the codecs? Why NeroLinux when there is a burning suite already included? This Trial software nonsense [blah blah blah...]“

Hey pal, don’t ask me! I’m not the one that includes that in my distro!

Continuing… now a rant about App Runner:

“Not to mention the security vulnerabilities such versions will bring (them). So there is the “App-Runner” assumes all programs have root-rights to run – which is probably the security principle of Ubuntu clearly contradicts”

Oh really? Please tell me more! App Runner does not assumes NOTHING! The only thing is does is just making a files executable and then launching it, and if the user tries to run a file as root, he is asked for the root password. App Runner is just a graphical way of doing things that ALL non-root users could/can do on the terminal. App Runner itself also runs as non-root application.

More:

“And let’s face it, with reconstructor, anyone can make their own personal version without having to resort to this kind of things. And then you do not have to blindly trust [....] downloading this software, possibly even dangerous.”

Yeah, even my mother could use reconstructor, it’s so easy! Now seriously: I would love that things like Super OS were not necessary, but the fact is that Ubuntu just does not work “out of the box”, and doing a remaster is not really easy. Other thing: I don’t ask anyone to trust me, in fact, I have even advised users/downloaders to make their own remaster and NOT to trust some random guy on the interwebs (me)…

And now we go to another site: http://ikhaya.ubuntuusers.de/2009/05/20/warnung-vor-super-os/ (translation: by google)

“[blah blah] Much software is can be installed on a normal Ubuntu in a few mouse clicks”

Really? Can I easilly install the MP3 codecs and any program on an offline Ubuntu system…?  ….. I thought so! Sure I can install software offline, but I think everybody agrees “the windows way” of installing software offline beats “the linux way” 99% of the time!

More:

[...] programs that are completely useless: Around a trial version of Nero Linux or programs like Quicktime and Internet Explorer on Wine, These additional “tidbits” blow the installation media in less than a gigabyte, so that a CD as a medium is no longer sufficient. All preinstalled codecs and applications can also be used in a normal Ubuntu and who can not do this you should prefer to look at Linux Mint.”

How about really checking out that that software really exists? that might be a good idea, right? Regarding blowing the installation media, well, software takes space you know…? I know there is already Linux Mint with codecs and Flash, and I will not say it is a bad distro (I even think it is good), BUT… I started Super OS because I think Linux Mint still does not address the very simple issues of running/installing software on Linux/ubuntu.

“Super OS also has its own repository, which contains some non-free software packages.”

Guess what? People want that, and I provide it to them.
And now about App Runner:

“This program starts a terminal window, it adds to the script execute permissions for all users, and runs it. The file permissions are no longer putted back”

Yes, I know that it adds (maybe unnecessary) executable permissions so all users can run it, but what is the problem with that? If a malicious user can read the file he could just copy it to his home and put the permissions himself, so that’s really no different than having a+x or u+x (in my opinion)…

More:

“An application like App Runner, which automatically makes executable files, destroys this security mechanism.”

Is it so hard to understand that App Runner does not do things “automatically“? The user must go trough a series of menus to run a file. It is no different from doing the things on the terminal. The only difference is that this way is easier, just that!

“Super OS is ultimately nothing more than another attempt to do something to fix what is not broken”

If you said “Super OS is just a lame remaster of Ubuntu that does not include any remarkable feature”, well, that would be your opinion and I would respect it, but saying “to fix what is not broken“… hahaha! it is a pain in the ass to run a program on Linux, all those executable bits, and bullsh*t… Heck… even Microsoft could made a secure system that way. Steve ballmer: “Hey Bill, I had a new idea to make Windows safer! Let’s just make sure files are really hard to run! this would make windows much more secure!” <<— very true, but would also make it more un-usable!

An then there is this image saying something like “with App Runner, you can also run non-existent files”, guess what? that is the behavior of nautilus. Anyway, you could have showed App Runner actually failing to run those non-existent files, but you know what? that is now already fixed!

And… we are finished! other sites (1, 2) have also started to spread misinformation. To them: hey, how about checking the facts first?

You guys really failed, you could have said that App Runner would not ask for the password (to run a program as root), if the password was already in the “cache” (again: this would also happen on the “terminal-way”), besides, I now fixed this on the latest App Runner (already in the repos: you see? that’s the purpose of Super OS repo!). Or you could have said that running GUI apps with sudo is sometimes bad (guess what? I also fixed it now). Or you could have said that the Super OS repo is not authenticated, and that thing MIGHT have security risks (heck, I tried to do it, but setting up a signed repo is just not easy!).
To readers: Super OS repo is just as secure as downloading from getdeb.net or download.com

Seriously, just do proper reasearch before spreading lies… I really don’t care about people saying sh!t about my distro, I even find those articles funny due to the “ignorance” they show… but there is simply no reason for me to hide this, talk all the crap you want! I coudn’t care less!

PS: If I did any error on the translation, please let me know!