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Articles tagged with "open-source"

Aviation enthusiast uses Raspberry Pi and ADS-B radio to create viral real-time airport tracker — open-source 'Skylight' intercepts aircraft signals and projects flight paths onto your ceiling

Aviation enthusiast uses Raspberry Pi and ADS-B radio to create viral real-time airport tracker — open-source 'Skylight' intercepts aircraft signals and projects flight paths onto your ceiling

Software engineer Cameron Paczek created Skylight, an open-source project using a Raspberry Pi 5 and ADS-B radio to track aircraft in real-time and project their flight paths onto your ceiling. Skylight captures ADS-B signals emitted by planes, decodes them, and displays details like model, altitude, and distance to destination on your ceiling. The project also recreates the sky with celestial bodies and live satellite tracking. Paczek plans to release a ready-made kit for Skylight to make it more accessible to those who are not tech-savvy.

Tom's Hardware•
Github Copilot customers report up to 100-fold price hikes — AI sticker shock bites as Microsoft switches to usage-based pricing

Github Copilot customers report up to 100-fold price hikes — AI sticker shock bites as Microsoft switches to usage-based pricing

GitHub Copilot has transitioned to usage-based pricing, leading to significant price hikes for customers. Users are reporting bills increasing by up to 100-fold, with some finding subscription plans limited or useless due to low usage limits. The new pricing model includes token allowances in different subscription tiers, but estimating token usage for queries can be challenging. Users are advised to carefully select efficient models to manage costs, as some have experienced unexpectedly high token consumption even with light usage. Investors are pushing for AI companies to generate more revenue to match their expenditures, despite backlash against Microsoft for the pricing changes.

Tom's Hardware•
Linux prepares to axe legacy x32 hybrid mode — hybrid 32-bit/64-bit mode faces complete removal by 2027 due to low adoption

Linux prepares to axe legacy x32 hybrid mode — hybrid 32-bit/64-bit mode faces complete removal by 2027 due to low adoption

The Linux kernel is considering removing the x32 ABI, a hybrid 32-bit/64-bit mode introduced in 2012, by 2027 due to low adoption rates. The x32 ABI aimed to optimize memory consumption for 64-bit programs by using 32-bit pointers while accessing the full 64-bit register file. Despite its potential performance improvements, the x32 ABI faced challenges such as complexity for developers and limited memory usage per process. The lack of mainstream adoption and exclusivity to Linux contributed to its demise, as it did not see widespread use by software developers.

Tom's Hardware•
Millions of AI agents imperiled by critical vulnerability in open source package

Millions of AI agents imperiled by critical vulnerability in open source package

A critical vulnerability in the open source framework Starlette is imperiling millions of AI agents and tools worldwide, potentially allowing hackers to breach servers and access sensitive data and credentials. This vulnerability, known as BadHost (CVE-2026-48710), affects systems using Starlette versions prior to 1.0.1 and is easy to exploit on servers not behind a properly configured firewall. The flaw impacts various widely used packages in the Python AI ecosystem, including FastAPI, vLLM, and LiteLLM. Security researchers have highlighted the seriousness of this vulnerability, with a severity rating of 7 out of 10 and warnings that it poses a significant threat to users of apps relying on Starlette.

Ars Technica•
A hacker group is poisoning open source code at an unprecedented scale

A hacker group is poisoning open source code at an unprecedented scale

A hacker group known as TeamPCP has been conducting a significant number of software supply chain attacks, corrupting hundreds of open source tools to insert their malicious code. The group recently breached GitHub by installing a tainted extension for VSCode, compromising around 4,000 of GitHub's code repositories. TeamPCP has been actively carrying out these attacks, with cybersecurity firm Socket reporting over 20 waves of attacks in the past few months, affecting more than 500 software pieces. This ongoing spree of attacks has raised concerns about the security and trustworthiness of the software ecosystem.

Ars Technica•
In stunning display of stupid, secret CISA credentials found in public GitHub repo

In stunning display of stupid, secret CISA credentials found in public GitHub repo

A security researcher discovered that America’s Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Agency (CISA) had exposed plaintext passwords, SSH private keys, and other sensitive assets in a public GitHub repo named “Private-CISA” since November 2025. The repo's administrator had disabled GitHub’s default protections against committing secrets, allowing unauthorized access. Testing confirmed the seriousness of the breach, with credentials from the repo granting high-level access to Amazon Web Services GovCloud accounts. The repo was linked to CISA contractor Nightwing, which has not publicly commented on the issue. This incident adds to a series of mishaps by CISA, including a previous incident involving sensitive government documents uploaded to ChatGPT.

Ars Technica•
Linus Torvalds says flood of duplicate AI-generated vulnerability reports have made Linux security mailing list 'almost entirely unmanageable' — private list 'a waste of time for everybody involved' in switch to new public system

Linus Torvalds says flood of duplicate AI-generated vulnerability reports have made Linux security mailing list 'almost entirely unmanageable' — private list 'a waste of time for everybody involved' in switch to new public system

Linus Torvalds expressed frustration with the Linux kernel's private security mailing list being overwhelmed by duplicate vulnerability reports generated by AI tools. He emphasized the need for a new public system for handling AI-detected bugs, directing researchers to submit findings directly to maintainers as public disclosures. The volume of duplicate reports has strained the existing triage process, prompting Torvalds to urge researchers to provide more value by creating patches along with bug reports. The Linux kernel project recently established a policy allowing AI-generated code with strict disclosure requirements, ensuring human accountability for all AI-assisted contributions.

Tom's Hardware•
Josef Prusa warns Chinese 3D printing software poses massive security risks — Bambu Lab allegedly violates AGPL license with an un-auditable network 'black box'

Josef Prusa warns Chinese 3D printing software poses massive security risks — Bambu Lab allegedly violates AGPL license with an un-auditable network 'black box'

Josef Prusa, CEO of Prusa Research, warns about security risks posed by Chinese 3D printing software like Bambu Lab, alleging violations of the AGPL license with an un-auditable network "black box." Prusa highlights the importance of open-source principles and the implications of violating such licenses. While Bambu Lab defends the separation of the slicer and network plugin, Prusa argues that they are interconnected and violate the AGPL-3.0 license. Additionally, Prusa raises concerns about the Chinese government's involvement in technology companies and the potential security implications for users.

Tom's Hardware•
Louis Rossmann taunts Bambu Lab by hosting banned 3D Printer firmware fork, dares $1 billion company to sue him — more creators pledge support and boycotts, Snapmaker donates equipment to embattled developer

Louis Rossmann taunts Bambu Lab by hosting banned 3D Printer firmware fork, dares $1 billion company to sue him — more creators pledge support and boycotts, Snapmaker donates equipment to embattled developer

Louis Rossmann has taken a stand against Bambu Lab by hosting a banned 3D printer firmware fork on his GitHub, challenging the company to sue him. This move has garnered support from other creators, with Snapmaker even donating equipment to the embattled developer. The controversy stems from Bambu Lab's opposition to open-source firmware and their legal threats against independent developer Pawel Jarczak. Despite the company's claims of structural vulnerability and stability concerns for their cloud servers, the community continues to rally behind the right to modify software and support open-source projects.

Tom's Hardware•
RPCS3 updates its contribution guidelines after AI-generated 'slop' pull requests caused regressions in the PS3 emulator

RPCS3 updates its contribution guidelines after AI-generated 'slop' pull requests caused regressions in the PS3 emulator

RPCS3, the PlayStation 3 emulator, has updated its contribution guidelines to combat the influx of AI-generated code submissions causing regressions in the project. The team now requires contributors to fully comprehend and take ownership of the code they submit, even if AI was involved in its creation. The guidelines do not ban AI-generated code but mandate disclosure and responsibility from contributors. RPCS3 emphasized the need for quality submissions to prevent bugs and performance issues. The project, driven by unpaid volunteers, aims to maintain its progress in emulating the complex Cell CPU architecture.

TweakTown•
Linux bitten by second severe vulnerability in as many weeks

Linux bitten by second severe vulnerability in as many weeks

A new Linux vulnerability named Dirty Frag allows low-privilege users to gain root access on servers, posing a significant threat, especially in shared environments. The exploit code, leaked online, works reliably across various Linux distributions and has caught the attention of hackers in the wild. The deterministic nature of the exploit makes it stealthy and dangerous, similar to a previous vulnerability called Copy Fail. Security experts urge organizations to apply patches and implement mitigations promptly to safeguard their systems. While some distributors have released patches, users are advised to check with their official provider for updates.

Ars Technica•
AMD's legendary K5, its first independently-designed processor, is being removed from the Linux kernel — 4.3-million-transistor chip gets the axe because it lacks Time Stamp Counter (TSC) support, making it a coding burden

AMD's legendary K5, its first independently-designed processor, is being removed from the Linux kernel — 4.3-million-transistor chip gets the axe because it lacks Time Stamp Counter (TSC) support, making it a coding burden

AMD's first independently-designed processor, the K5, is being removed from Linux kernel support due to its lack of Time Stamp Counter (TSC) support. The 4.3-million-transistor chip, known for its RISC-based internal architecture, is considered a burden for developers to maintain in the kernel. Despite its historical significance as AMD's inaugural x86 processor, the K5 faced challenges with late arrival and underwhelming performance compared to Intel's offerings. This retirement follows a trend of older processor lines, including the Intel i486 and AMD Elan SoCs, being phased out of Linux support in kernel version 7.2.

Tom's Hardware•
Linux mascot Tux the penguin hits 30 years old — Linus Torvalds outlined the design of the 'slightly overweight penguin' on May 9, 1996

Linux mascot Tux the penguin hits 30 years old — Linus Torvalds outlined the design of the 'slightly overweight penguin' on May 9, 1996

Linus Torvalds introduced the Linux mascot Tux the penguin 30 years ago, envisioning a cute, contented, slightly overweight penguin as the logo. Torvalds preferred a simple, stylized penguin over a complex design involving a world map. While Tux's detailed design contrasts with modern minimalist logos, there's speculation that a simpler version may emerge in the future for better branding and merchandise appeal.

Tom's Hardware•
Devastating 'Dirty Frag' exploit leaks out, gives immediate root access on most Linux machines since 2017, no patches available, no warning given — Copy Fail-like vulnerability had its embargo broken

Devastating 'Dirty Frag' exploit leaks out, gives immediate root access on most Linux machines since 2017, no patches available, no warning given — Copy Fail-like vulnerability had its embargo broken

A new Linux vulnerability called Dirty Frag has been discovered, providing immediate root access to most Linux machines since 2017. This exploit, similar to Copy Fail, affects popular distributions like Ubuntu, Arch, RHEL, and more. Unlike Copy Fail, Dirty Frag currently has no patches available, making it particularly dangerous. Mitigation involves disabling specific networking modules, and the exploit was revealed prematurely due to an embargo breach. Users are advised to stay vigilant for updates and patch their systems promptly.

Tom's Hardware•
New Linux StarFighter laptop family debuts starting at $1,878 — Star Labs Systems' laptops arrive with spacious RAM, several options

New Linux StarFighter laptop family debuts starting at $1,878 — Star Labs Systems' laptops arrive with spacious RAM, several options

Star Labs Systems has introduced the StarFighter laptop lineup, featuring premium materials and designed for Linux OS, with prices starting at $1,878. The base model includes a 16-inch 165Hz QHD display, an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor, and 32GB of LPDDR5x memory. Higher-end configurations are available with more powerful processors and increased RAM. The laptops feature soldered RAM but allow for storage upgrades. Despite production delays, the first batch of StarFighters has finally arrived, competing with other Linux-focused laptops in the market.

Tom's Hardware•
Notepad++ creator threatens legal action over macOS port of open-source app — developer says port is fine, but branding is too far

Notepad++ creator threatens legal action over macOS port of open-source app — developer says port is fine, but branding is too far

Notepad++ creator Don Ho has taken legal action against a macOS port developer for unauthorized use of the editor's name, logo, and branding. The macOS port, created by Andrey Letov, was initially mistaken for an official release before corrections were made. Ho emphasized that his concern lies with the unauthorized use of branding, as the Notepad++ software itself is open-source. Despite Letov's hopes for endorsement, Ho refused, leading to ongoing disputes over trademark infringement. The macOS port's website still remains active under a slightly modified name and logo.

Tom's Hardware•
CISA flags actively exploited ‘Copy Fail’ Linux kernel flaw enabling root takeover across major distros — unpatched systems may remain vulnerable to attack

CISA flags actively exploited ‘Copy Fail’ Linux kernel flaw enabling root takeover across major distros — unpatched systems may remain vulnerable to attack

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has identified a critical Linux kernel vulnerability named "Copy Fail" that is actively being exploited, allowing attackers to gain root access on major Linux distributions like Ubuntu and Red Hat. The flaw, disclosed by security researchers at Theori, enables privilege escalation for local users and has a 100% reliable proof-of-concept exploit. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed without prior coordination with Linux distribution maintainers, leading to a compressed response time for deploying patches. CISA has issued a directive for federal agencies to patch affected systems promptly, while Linux vendors are releasing updates to address the issue. Users are advised to update their systems to protect against potential attacks.

Tom's Hardware•
Linux exploit instantly grants administrator access on most distributions since 2017 — cryptography optimization snafu grants root privileges to local users

Linux exploit instantly grants administrator access on most distributions since 2017 — cryptography optimization snafu grants root privileges to local users

A recent Linux exploit, CVE-2026-31431, allows local unprivileged users to gain root access instantly on most Linux distributions since 2017. The exploit affects popular distros like Ubuntu, RHEL, Suse, and Amazon Linux, as well as Windows' WSL2. The vulnerability, discovered by Xint Code researchers, involves a cryptography optimization flaw that grants administrator privileges through a devious attack on the AF_ALG socket. While a patch has been released, some distributions may still be vulnerable, requiring mitigation methods like disabling AF_ALG sockets. The exploit occurs in memory without leaving detectable traces on disk, making it challenging to detect with security software.

Tom's Hardware•
The most severe Linux threat to surface in years catches the world flat-footed

The most severe Linux threat to surface in years catches the world flat-footed

A critical Linux vulnerability, named CopyFail (CVE-2026-31431), has been disclosed by security researchers, allowing unprivileged users to gain root access across various Linux distributions. The exploit code, released by Theori, works universally without modification, posing a significant threat to data centers and personal devices. While the Linux kernel security team patched the vulnerability in several versions, many distributions had not yet implemented the fixes at the time of the exploit's release. This flaw enables attackers to execute malicious activities like hacking multi-tenant systems and creating backdoors, emphasizing the severity of the issue.

Ars Technica•
Developer re-enables 3D printer features that Bambu Lab disabled, firm promptly threatens legal action — OrcaSlicer-BambuLab project now shuttered

Developer re-enables 3D printer features that Bambu Lab disabled, firm promptly threatens legal action — OrcaSlicer-BambuLab project now shuttered

Developer Pawel Jarczak voluntarily shut down his "OrcaSlicer-BambuLab" project after receiving legal threats from Bambu Lab for re-enabling 3D printer features that Bambu had disabled. Bambu Lab accused Jarczak of reverse engineering their software and violating their Terms of Use. Jarczak insists he did nothing wrong as his fork of OrcaSlicer only used publicly available source code. Bambu Lab's decision to restrict access to its cloud servers impacted users' ability to control their printers and AMS settings through OrcaSlicer. Jarczak is now focusing on developing firmware for Klipper-based printers and crowdfunding the project.

Tom's Hardware•
PS5 Linux loader goes public, turning ‘Phat’ consoles into full Linux PCs — build script includes bootable Ubuntu 24.04 image, can output 4K games at 60 FPS

PS5 Linux loader goes public, turning ‘Phat’ consoles into full Linux PCs — build script includes bootable Ubuntu 24.04 image, can output 4K games at 60 FPS

Security engineer Andy Nguyen, also known as TheFlow, has released ps5-linux on GitHub, a toolchain for booting Linux on PlayStation 5 Phat consoles running specific firmware versions. The project includes a Linux payload, a build script for a bootable Ubuntu 24.04 image, tools for SSD installation, and a fan/CPU/GPU control utility. The PS5 can run as a Linux desktop with access to CPU and GPU boost clocks, outputting video and audio at up to 4K 60Hz. This soft mod requires re-running the exploit each time to boot into Linux and offers an affordable alternative for Linux gamers.

Tom's Hardware•
Open source package with 1 million monthly downloads stole user credentials

Open source package with 1 million monthly downloads stole user credentials

A widely used open source package with 1 million monthly downloads was compromised by threat actors exploiting a vulnerability in the developers’ account workflow, granting access to sensitive information. The malicious package, element-data 0.23.3, was distributed to users, collecting user credentials, API tokens, and more. Users who installed this version are advised to consider their credentials compromised. The attackers gained access through a GitHub action, allowing them to publish the malicious package. The developers swiftly removed the package, rotated credentials, and fixed the vulnerability.

Ars Technica•
Commodore backs down over FPGA firmware lockdown — it won’t now try and block third-party firmware installs but will stand firm against bricked modded units

Commodore backs down over FPGA firmware lockdown — it won’t now try and block third-party firmware installs but will stand firm against bricked modded units

Commodore has reversed its decision to block third-party firmware installs on the C64 Ultimate computer, allowing users to experiment freely. However, the company will not provide support or replacements for modded units that become bricked. The initial plan to restrict non-Commodore FPGA firmware caused a divide among fans, leading to heated discussions on social media and forums. Commodore now emphasizes user freedom but warns that using community-installed firmware is at the owner's risk, with no free support or warranty service provided for damaged units.

Tom's Hardware•
Intel shutters open-source evangelism program and archives key community projects — closures point to significant shift in open-source leadership

Intel shutters open-source evangelism program and archives key community projects — closures point to significant shift in open-source leadership

Intel has closed its Open Ecosystem Community and Evangelism initiative, signaling a shift away from its open-source advocacy role. The move is part of a broader trend of discontinuing internal open-source efforts amid restructuring. The company has archived key projects on GitHub, including AI, infrastructure, and developer tools, due to limited activity and maintenance challenges. This shift reflects Intel's evolving open-source strategy towards a more selective, product-focused approach, impacting developer engagement and platform visibility. The company's move away from broad ecosystem cultivation may have long-term implications for its open-source posture.

Tom's Hardware•
You can now run Linux on your ancient Windows 95 desktop with a new tool — very old Windows PCs, back to Intel 486, can cooperatively run very modern Linux kernels with WSL9x

You can now run Linux on your ancient Windows 95 desktop with a new tool — very old Windows PCs, back to Intel 486, can cooperatively run very modern Linux kernels with WSL9x

A new tool called WSL9x allows ancient Windows 95 desktops, even those with Intel 486 CPUs, to run modern Linux kernels cooperatively with Windows. The tool, shared by a computer tinkerer on Codeberg, enables users to run Windows and Linux apps side-by-side with a modern Linux kernel within early Windows versions. WSL9x consists of a patched Linux kernel, a VxD driver, and wsl.com, and does not require hardware virtualization. Users can enjoy the capabilities of both operating systems simultaneously without the need for reboots. In contrast, Linux is phasing out support for the 37-year-old Intel 486 CPU, with a patch expected to be merged into Linux 7.1, signaling the end of i486 kernel image builds.

Tom's Hardware•
Microsoft issues emergency update for macOS and Linux ASP.NET threat

Microsoft issues emergency update for macOS and Linux ASP.NET threat

Microsoft has issued an emergency update for its ASP.NET Core to address a critical vulnerability (CVE-2026-40372) affecting versions 10.0.0 through 10.0.6 of the Microsoft.AspNetCore.DataProtection NuGet package on macOS and Linux. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to gain SYSTEM privileges by forging authentication payloads during the HMAC validation process. Even after patching, devices may still be at risk if forged credentials created by threat actors are not removed. ASP.NET Core is a high-performance web development framework for creating .Net apps on various platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Docker.

Ars Technica•
Linux may be ending support for older network drivers due to influx of false AI-generated bug reports — maintenance has become too burdensome for old largely-unused systems

Linux may be ending support for older network drivers due to influx of false AI-generated bug reports — maintenance has become too burdensome for old largely-unused systems

The Linux kernel community is considering removing legacy network drivers from the mainline source code due to an overwhelming number of false bug reports generated by AI tools. Maintaining support for old, rarely-used hardware has become unsustainable as the influx of low-quality reports consumes developers' time. The proposal aims to eliminate outdated drivers from various hardware families, potentially removing 27,646 lines of code. While users could still restore these drivers individually, the change would reduce the default maintenance burden on legacy systems.

Tom's Hardware•
Framework’s overhauled Laptop 13 Pro brings a redesigned chassis — Intel Core Ultra Series 3 system aims to be a 'MacBook Pro for Linux users'

Framework’s overhauled Laptop 13 Pro brings a redesigned chassis — Intel Core Ultra Series 3 system aims to be a 'MacBook Pro for Linux users'

The Framework Laptop 13 Pro, recently unveiled, features a redesigned chassis with a CNC-aluminum build, a first-ever fully-custom display with touchscreen capability, a haptic touchpad, and a larger 74 WHr battery. It is equipped with Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors for improved efficiency and longer battery life. The laptop supports PCIe 5.0 and Wi-Fi 7, offering enhanced connectivity options. Framework plans to ship the Laptop 13 Pro in June, with DIY editions starting at $1,199 and pre-built configurations at $1,499. Additionally, the company is introducing new products like a laptop sleeve, a keyboard with a built-in touchpad, and a 10 GBps Expansion Card for faster networking.

Tom's Hardware•
Linux 7.1 update includes new in-kernel NTFS driver — delivers storage support upgrade for Linux users

Linux 7.1 update includes new in-kernel NTFS driver — delivers storage support upgrade for Linux users

Linux 7.1 introduces a new in-kernel NTFS driver that significantly enhances storage support for Linux users, treating Microsoft's filesystem as a native component rather than a secondary option. This update marks a departure from previous solutions like FUSE drivers, offering faster, more reliable, and fully integrated NTFS support within the kernel. The new driver, developed by Namjae Jeon, promises improved performance compared to existing options like NTFS-3G and NTFS3, with enhanced read/write operations, memory management, and write efficiency. While the new driver may initially face some stability challenges with less common NTFS features, it represents a significant step towards seamless compatibility between Linux and Windows systems.

Tom's Hardware•
Engineer open-sources DIY radar system that's 95% cheaper than $250,000 commercial offerings, has 20 kilometer range — Moroccan engineer designs Aeris-10 radar, shares it on GitHub

Engineer open-sources DIY radar system that's 95% cheaper than $250,000 commercial offerings, has 20 kilometer range — Moroccan engineer designs Aeris-10 radar, shares it on GitHub

Moroccan engineer Nawfal Motii has developed the open-source Aeris-10 radar system, available on GitHub, which is a cost-effective alternative to commercial radar systems at just $5,000-$7,200. The radar has two variants, offering ranges of 3 km and 20 km, respectively, with advanced features like Moving Target Indicator and Doppler-effect estimation. The system uses an FPGA and microcontroller for processing and control, and allows for ±45° elevation/azimuth adjustments. Motii aims to release the project on the Crowed Supply platform in Q3 2026, providing an accessible DIY radar solution for enthusiasts with the necessary skills.

Tom's Hardware•
Nvidia releases open AI models for quantum computing tasks — 'Ising' said to be 2.5x faster and 3x more accurate than existing tools for decoding

Nvidia releases open AI models for quantum computing tasks — 'Ising' said to be 2.5x faster and 3x more accurate than existing tools for decoding

Nvidia has unveiled Ising, a set of open-source AI models tailored for quantum processor calibration and real-time error correction decoding. These models aim to address key challenges in quantum computing, such as calibration and decoding bottlenecks. Ising Calibration, a vision-language model, reduces calibration time significantly, while the Ising Decoding family offers faster and more accurate decoding for quantum error correction. Nvidia's Ising models have shown significant improvements over existing tools, attracting adopters like Fermilab, Harvard, and IonQ. Despite being open-source, Ising relies on Nvidia's proprietary software stack for optimal performance.

Tom's Hardware•
Website backup crippled by 1.6MB Friends GIF that was replicated 246,173 times, breaking Linux's EXT4 filesystem limit — Jennifer Aniston's 'happy dance' animation ate up 377 gigabytes of data due to security policy

Website backup crippled by 1.6MB Friends GIF that was replicated 246,173 times, breaking Linux's EXT4 filesystem limit — Jennifer Aniston's 'happy dance' animation ate up 377 gigabytes of data due to security policy

A single 1.6MB Friends GIF of Jennifer Aniston's 'happy dance' was replicated 246,173 times on a Discourse site, causing a backup bloat of 377GB and breaking the Linux EXT4 filesystem limit. The issue stemmed from an overuse of the GIF and a file security policy, which created multiple copies of the same file due to context changes. Discourse attempted fixes by tracking original content hashes and creating hardlinks, but faced challenges with the ext4 limit. Ultimately, a new fix was implemented to handle excessive duplicates more efficiently, ensuring smoother backup processes in the future.

Tom's Hardware•
Linux lays down the law on AI-generated code, says yes to Copilot, no to AI slop, and humans take the fall for mistakes — after months of fierce debate, Torvalds and maintainers come to an agreement

Linux lays down the law on AI-generated code, says yes to Copilot, no to AI slop, and humans take the fall for mistakes — after months of fierce debate, Torvalds and maintainers come to an agreement

The Linux kernel project has established a new policy allowing AI-assisted code contributions with strict disclosure rules, requiring a new "Assisted-by" tag for transparency instead of the "Signed-off-by" tag. This move comes after a debate over AI tools' policing, with Linus Torvalds emphasizing that AI is just another tool and focusing on holding human developers accountable for code quality and security flaws. The policy aims to legally anchor AI-generated code onto human developers, addressing concerns about undisclosed AI assistance and the volume of "AI slop" flooding the open-source world. The Linux kernel's pragmatic approach acknowledges the reality of developers using AI tools while emphasizing human liability for code quality.

Tom's Hardware•
Linux 7.0 enables three new AI-specific keys for keyboards, an apparent expansion beyond the Copilot key — Google authors both the HID spec and the kernel patch

Linux 7.0 enables three new AI-specific keys for keyboards, an apparent expansion beyond the Copilot key — Google authors both the HID spec and the kernel patch

The Linux 7.0 kernel introduces three new AI-specific keycodes for laptops, expanding beyond the Microsoft Copilot key, with Google being the author of both the HID spec and the kernel patch. The new keycodes include KEY_ACTION_ON_SELECTION, KEY_CONTEXTUAL_INSERT, and KEY_CONTEXTUAL_QUERY, designed for in-context AI agent interactions. These keycodes are defined on the USB HID Application Launch usage page, allowing for direct mapping by operating systems. Google's involvement in this development is notable, especially as Microsoft initially drove the Copilot key push. The keycodes are agent-agnostic, giving OEMs flexibility in integrating them into upcoming laptops and PCs.

Tom's Hardware•
Valve engineer shocks Linux community with game-changing VRAM hack for 8GB GPUs — breakthrough solution turbocharges gaming by prioritizing VRAM for games while background tasks take a back seat

Valve engineer shocks Linux community with game-changing VRAM hack for 8GB GPUs — breakthrough solution turbocharges gaming by prioritizing VRAM for games while background tasks take a back seat

Valve engineer Natalie Vock has introduced a groundbreaking VRAM optimization solution for Linux, enhancing gaming performance on 8GB GPUs by prioritizing VRAM for games over background tasks. This innovation addresses the challenge of running graphically intensive games smoothly on cards with limited memory. Vock's kernel patches and utilities ensure that foreground games have priority access to VRAM, preventing interruptions from background processes. The solution, including dmemcg-booster and plasma-foreground-booster components, optimizes VRAM usage and significantly boosts gaming performance, as demonstrated with Cyberpunk 2077 on an 8GB GPU. These patches are tailored for AMD GPUs and are on the path to integration into the main Linux kernel.

Tom's Hardware•
French government say it's ditching Windows for Linux — country accelerates plans to ditch US-based software in digital sovereignty push

French government say it's ditching Windows for Linux — country accelerates plans to ditch US-based software in digital sovereignty push

France is accelerating its digital sovereignty plans by announcing its exit from Windows in favor of Linux for workstations. This move aims to eliminate U.S.-based commercial interests from government computers. The plan includes migrating to sovereign solutions and adopting open-source alternatives for collaborative tools. French Ministers emphasize reducing reliance on technologies controlled by outside interests to regain control of digital destiny. The decision to move to Linux could influence other EU countries and organizations, potentially impacting software and services businesses.

Tom's Hardware•
Engineer installs 3.5-inch floppy drive in a Tesla — modern EV recognizes and runs ancient storage device, even plays an MP3 file from diskette

Engineer installs 3.5-inch floppy drive in a Tesla — modern EV recognizes and runs ancient storage device, even plays an MP3 file from diskette

An engineer successfully installed a 3.5-inch floppy drive in a Tesla, playing an MP3 file from the diskette. The Tesla recognized the ancient storage device without requiring major modifications. The drive was connected via a USB to FDD converter, showcasing the Linux kernel's continued support for such subsystems. While floppy disks are now outdated, they remain significant for the retro community, with Linux receiving updated drivers to keep the drives operational.

Tom's Hardware•
GitHub user creates open-source Nvidia GeForce Now client alternative — removes tracking, telemetry, and AFK limitations

GitHub user creates open-source Nvidia GeForce Now client alternative — removes tracking, telemetry, and AFK limitations

A GitHub user has developed an open-source alternative to Nvidia GeForce Now called OpenNOW, which removes tracking, telemetry, and AFK limitations. This client allows gamers to connect to Nvidia's cloud gaming service with added features not available on the original client. OpenNOW supports Linux natively and can stream games up to 4K@240 FPS, offering smoother gameplay. While it lacks some features like flight controls and Discord integration, it provides more privacy and customization options for users who prefer more control over their data.

Tom's Hardware•
Linux devs start removing support for 37-year-old Intel 486 CPU — head honcho Linus Torvalds says 'zero real reason' to continue support

Linux devs start removing support for 37-year-old Intel 486 CPU — head honcho Linus Torvalds says 'zero real reason' to continue support

Linux developers have initiated the removal of support for the 37-year-old Intel 486 CPU from the upcoming Linux 7.1 kernel, following Linus Torvalds' statement that there is "zero real reason" to maintain support for the outdated processor. The move is not unexpected given the age of the 486 and the increasing resource demands of modern Linux distributions. Developer Ingo Molnar has introduced a patch signaling the end of support for the 486, with the changes expected to be finalized in Linux 7.1. Users still utilizing 486 systems are advised to switch to existing Linux LTS kernels or consider upgrading to more modern CPUs.

Tom's Hardware•
Windows just saw a dramatic drop in OS market share on Steam as gamers move to Linux

Windows just saw a dramatic drop in OS market share on Steam as gamers move to Linux

The March 2026 Steam Hardware & Software Survey shows Linux surpassing a 5% market share on Steam for the first time, with SteamOS leading the way. Windows' market share dropped to 92.33%, with Windows 11 at 66.85% and Windows 10 losing almost 15%. While Windows remains dominant, some gamers are exploring Linux due to concerns about Windows 11's stability for gaming. With the rise of gaming-focused Linux distros and upcoming Linux-based Steam products, the shift to non-Windows platforms in PC gaming is gaining momentum.

TweakTown•
Ubuntu Linux raises minimum system memory requirements by 50% — requirements bumped to 6GB of RAM, previously raised from 1GB to 4GB in 2018

Ubuntu Linux raises minimum system memory requirements by 50% — requirements bumped to 6GB of RAM, previously raised from 1GB to 4GB in 2018

Canonical has increased the minimum RAM requirement for Ubuntu Linux to 6GB in the latest LTS release, up from 4GB in 2018. The change is attributed to the demands of modern applications and multitasking workflows. While the OS will still install on systems with lower memory, performance may be impacted. Alternatives like Lubuntu, with lower system requirements, are available for users with older hardware.

Tom's Hardware•
Microsoft to upgrade Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) with faster file access, better networking and easier setup

Microsoft to upgrade Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) with faster file access, better networking and easier setup

Microsoft is set to enhance the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) in 2026 with improvements focused on faster file access, better networking, and easier setup. The upgrades aim to streamline the experience for developers who rely on WSL to run Linux tools on Windows, enhancing performance, reliability, and integration. Microsoft plans to improve file system performance, network compatibility, and setup processes to make WSL more user-friendly and efficient. Additionally, the company is addressing enterprise concerns by enhancing policy control, security, and management capabilities within WSL, aiming to strengthen Windows as a development platform against competitors like macOS and native Linux setups.

Windows Latest•
Valve adds early Steam Machine support in SteamOS 3.8 — latest update brings performance gains, better controller support, and desktop improvements

Valve adds early Steam Machine support in SteamOS 3.8 — latest update brings performance gains, better controller support, and desktop improvements

Valve has released SteamOS 3.8.0 with early support for upcoming Steam Machine hardware, offering performance improvements, better controller support, and desktop enhancements. Users can opt-in for the update through Settings to access features like updated graphics drivers, Bluetooth headset mic usage, and enhanced screen recording tools compatibility. The update also includes reduced controller input latency, support for various devices, and desktop mode upgrades such as improved scaling and display options. System-level enhancements like a "Memory Power Down" option for battery life improvement and preliminary system hibernation support have been added, particularly beneficial for Steam Deck users.

Tom's Hardware•
Opera GX finally arrives on Linux by popular demand — offers gamers and developers a highly customizable browser with advanced resource management

Opera GX finally arrives on Linux by popular demand — offers gamers and developers a highly customizable browser with advanced resource management

Opera GX, a browser tailored for gamers and developers, has been released for Linux due to high demand. The browser offers advanced resource management features like limiting CPU, RAM, and network usage, along with a sidebar for quick access to apps like Twitch and Discord. It also includes a built-in temporary files cleaner, screen-filter effects, and various customization options such as mods, extensions, themes, and visual effects. Opera GX prioritizes privacy with ad and tracker blockers, an optional VPN, and adherence to GDPR regulations. The browser is compatible with Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, and openSUSE-based Linux distributions, with Flatpak support in the works.

Tom's Hardware•
Enthusiast reverse engineers world’s smallest HDD to access data with help from an old Nokia N91 and OpenClaw — open source USB bridge unlocks 0.85-inch mechanical Toshiba drive from 2004

Enthusiast reverse engineers world’s smallest HDD to access data with help from an old Nokia N91 and OpenClaw — open source USB bridge unlocks 0.85-inch mechanical Toshiba drive from 2004

Maker Will Whang has developed an open-source MK4001MTD USB Bridge to access data from the world’s smallest mechanical hard drives, Toshiba's 0.85-inch MK4001MTD from 2004. Whang reverse-engineered the drive with the help of an old Nokia N91 and OpenClaw, an open-source USB bridge, to unlock the drive's data. By comparing drives and reader interface pads, Whang built a custom reader based on the USB2240 flash media controller chip, enabling the drive to be accessed as USB mass storage. Despite slow transfer speeds, Whang successfully accessed the drive's data and shared all source code and hardware design files on GitHub.

Tom's Hardware•
Nvidia's Nemotron coalition brings eight AI labs together to build open frontier models

Nvidia's Nemotron coalition brings eight AI labs together to build open frontier models

Nvidia has introduced the Nemotron Coalition, comprising eight AI labs collaborating to develop open frontier models on NVIDIA DGX Cloud for the upcoming Nemotron 4 model family. The coalition's initial focus includes agentic AI, robotics, autonomous vehicles, and drug discovery. Notable members include Black Forest Labs, Cursor, and Thinking Machines Lab, founded by Mira Murati. Nvidia plans to open-source the models developed by the coalition. Additionally, new models like Nemotron 3 Ultra and Isaac GR00T N1.7 for robotics have been unveiled, with future releases like GR00T N2 expected by the end of 2026.

Tom's Hardware•
Invisible malicious code attacks 151 GitHub repos and VS Code — Glassworm attack uses blockchain to steal tokens, credentials, and secrets

Invisible malicious code attacks 151 GitHub repos and VS Code — Glassworm attack uses blockchain to steal tokens, credentials, and secrets

Researchers at Aikido Security discovered that 151 GitHub repositories were infiltrated by Glassworm, a threat actor using invisible Unicode characters to hide malicious code. The attack, which started on March 3, has expanded to npm and the VS Code marketplace. The malicious code, when executed, can steal tokens, credentials, and secrets, with the payload using the Solana blockchain for command-and-control. Aikido advises caution when incorporating packages and suggests using automated tools to detect invisible Unicode injections.

Tom's Hardware•
OpenClaw AI agent craze sweeps China as authorities seek to clamp down amid security fears — adoption surges as state-run enterprises are barred from use

OpenClaw AI agent craze sweeps China as authorities seek to clamp down amid security fears — adoption surges as state-run enterprises are barred from use

The OpenClaw AI agent has gained immense popularity in China, with companies, individuals, and government entities rapidly adopting the open-source tool. This surge has led to a near cult-like following, prompting Chinese authorities to announce a crackdown due to security concerns and loss of control. OpenClaw simplifies integrating AI agents with existing software platforms through a messaging interface, leading to shortages of high-end Macs to run it. Major tech players like OpenAI and Nvidia are taking notice, with Nvidia developing its own version of the tool. The Chinese government is urging caution and implementing restrictions on the use of OpenClaw to mitigate security risks and maintain control over the technology.

Tom's Hardware•
Nvidia reportedly building its own AI agent to compete with OpenClaw, report claims — ‘NemoClaw’ will supposedly be open source and designed for enterprise use

Nvidia reportedly building its own AI agent to compete with OpenClaw, report claims — ‘NemoClaw’ will supposedly be open source and designed for enterprise use

Nvidia is developing its own AI agent called "NemoClaw" to rival OpenClaw, aiming for enterprise use and emphasizing security and privacy. The open-source nature of NemoClaw allows for customization, and it has been offered to partners like Adobe and Google. The tool is designed to work on any hardware, not limited to Nvidia chips. While similar AI agents like Clawdbot have faced issues, Nvidia aims to avoid such pitfalls with NemoClaw, potentially targeting the corporate market early.

Tom's Hardware•
Linux hacked onto a PS5 to turn Sony's console into a Steam Machine — GTA V Enhanced Edition runs at 60 FPS on 1440pwith ray tracing

Linux hacked onto a PS5 to turn Sony's console into a Steam Machine — GTA V Enhanced Edition runs at 60 FPS on 1440pwith ray tracing

A security engineer successfully hacked Linux onto a PS5, essentially turning it into a PC capable of running GTA V Enhanced Edition at 60 FPS on 1440p with ray tracing. By exploiting older firmware and gaining kernel-level control, the engineer overcame Sony's hypervisor restrictions. While GPU acceleration is still a work in progress, the modded console demonstrates impressive performance and functionality, showcasing the potential for running a variety of applications. This project hints at the possibilities of upcoming Steam Machines, which will offer similar performance and run SteamOS based on Linux, providing a glimpse into a future where consoles can be more versatile computing devices.

Tom's Hardware•

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