[nycbug-talk] Scary Ubuntu privacy junk

[Isaac (.ike) Levy]

On Nov 1, 2012, at 12:16 AM, George Rosamond wrote:
> This isn't a linux discussion list, but think this is relevant:
> 
> is.gd/sgZsW7
> 
> It goes to an ArsTechnica link.
> 
> But basically, the new Ubuntu has a default feature with Dash searches that sends them to Amazon, and (unencrypted) ads come back.
> 
> How unpleasant.
> 
> g

Horrible, but sadly not a surprise, from an OS which regularly re-writes it's motd regularly with advertisements, as well as providing information that users/administrators could drop in as a login script:

--
Welcome to Ubuntu 11.10 (GNU/Linux 3.0.0-14-virtual x86_64)

 * Documentation:  https://help.ubuntu.com/

  System information as of Thu Nov  1 15:11:43 EDT 2012

  System load:  x.xx              Processes:           xxx
  Usage of /:   xx.x% of xx.xGB   Users logged in:     xx
  Memory usage: xx%               IP address for eth0: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
  Swap usage:   xx%

  Graph this data and manage this system at https://landscape.canonical.com/
New release '12.04 LTS' available.
Run 'do-release-upgrade' to upgrade to it.

Get cloud support with Ubuntu Advantage Cloud Guest
  http://www.ubuntu.com/business/services/cloud
--

Kep your barfbags close,
.ike