Month: September 2014

Dangerous Security Flaw in Linux Systems

A fundamental flaw in one of the most basic functions of OS X, Linux, UNIX and related operating systems was revealed and patched (Sept. 24) by software developers. The Bash shell (or command-line interface) for UNIX-like systems, allows injection of random, possibly malicious, code following commands, and automatically executes that code without verifying it. Today’s patch prevents that code execution.

However, when I tried to install the patch in Linux Mint 17 Cinnamon edition from the Update Manager I got this:

W: Ignoring file ‘getdeb.list.bck’ in directory ‘/etc/apt/sources.list.d/’ as it has an invalid filename extension
W: Ignoring file ‘getdeb.list.bck’ in directory ‘/etc/apt/sources.list.d/’ as it has an invalid filename extension
W: Ignoring file ‘getdeb.list.bck’ in directory ‘/etc/apt/sources.list.d/’ as it has an invalid filename extension
W: Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/b/bash/bash_4.3-7ubuntu1.2_amd64.deb
404 Not Found [IP: 91.189.91.14 80]

I solved this by typing in the command line:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install –only-upgrade bash

Then I again ran the Update Manager. Done.

Read More
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-29361794
http://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-protect-your-server-against-the-shellshock-bash-vulnerability

Linux Mint OpenDNS Configuration

There are many reasons to use OpenDNS. Here is how you set it up in Linux Mint 17.

Go to Menu and search for network, click on Network Connections. Click once on your wired connection, then click edit on the right side. A new dialog box will open. Choose the tab that says IPv4 Settings. In the DNS servers box enter:

208.67.222.222, 208.67.220.220

Then click save. You are done. It should look like this:

Linkshttp://www.opendns.com/home-internet-security/opendns-ip-addresses/

First Major Linux Mint 17 Issue [solved]

It was actually two issues. When I shut down the computer I would get this error message: “reboot: system halted acquire the ‘org.freedesktop.ModemManager1’ service name nm-dispatcher.action: caught signal 15, shutting down… ModemManager.” And then it would just stop. It wouldn’t shut down. I had to physically push the off button.

Here is my solution: Since I am using a desktop, I just deleted the ModemManager. ModemManager is for mobile support, you don’t need it on the desktop.  After this I got a shorter message, “reboot: system halted 15, shutting down.” But it would still hang.

My next step was to add acpi=noirq to the kernel arguments:

sudo vi /etc/default/grub

set

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”acpi=noirq quiet splash”

then

sudo update-grub

Be careful editing this file. The second link below tells you how to save and close the file.

Finally, make sure acpi is enabled in your bios. Hopefully that should fix it. It worked for me.

Links
http://askubuntu.com/questions/132143/stuck-on-reboot-and-shutdown
http://askubuntu.com/questions/24406/how-to-close-vim-from-the-command-line
http://askubuntu.com/questions/461646/shutdown-hangs-for-5-minutes-on-kubuntu-14-04

Audacity Playback Sounds Like Chipmunks

So I started my podcasting process on Thursday’s, since that is my day off from work (that, and Friday’s). The recording went fine. But when I went to import it into Audacity, it would sound like super fast Chipmunks. And when it would stop it, it would freeze and I would have to force it to quiet.

I have been having a problem with my Linux system shutting down, so I thought maybe it was messed up. So I did a fresh install and restored all my files, which is an 8 hour process. But when I went to use it, I still had the same problems. Yes, I was frustrated. My mental constructs were getting the better of me. (I still have so far to go).

I then decided to use alternative programs. Ardour had too big of a learners curve. I finally choose a Windows program that is like Audacity called Wavosaur (I ran it under WINE). It worked to edit the file.

Many hours later I managed to figure out my problem with Audacity. In an updated, it changed the Default Sample Format from 24 bits to 32 bit float. I switched it back to 24 bits and it works fine again. To find this setting click Edit > Preferences > Quality.