Thank you for reading our Linux Security Week newsletter! In this weekly newsletter, we strive to provide readers with a comprehensive overview of the week's most relevant open source security news. We want to provide you with the type of content you are interested in, and would love to hear your thoughts on this week's articles.

Today’s newsletter highlights our two most recent feature articles: Open-Source Kernel Security Technologies and Geolocation for nftables Brings Simplicity & Flexibility to Geolocation Matching. We also examine various topics including the Linux Foundation's COVID-19 Credentials Initiative's work to standardize an approach to vaccination credentials and the release of LibreOffice 7.1 with an array of new features and improvements. Happy Monday - and happy reading!

Yours in Open Source,

Brittany Signature 150

LinuxSecurity.com Feature Extras:

Open-Source Kernel Security Technologies - Kernel security is a key determinant of overall system security. From the threats you should be aware of to the initiatives and technologies designed to reinforce and enhance the security of the Linux kernel, here's what you need to know.

Geolocation for nftables Brings Simplicity & Flexibility to Geolocation Matching - This article will examine the concept of geo filtering and how it could add a valuable layer of security to your firewall, and will then explore how the Geolocation for nftables project is leveraging Open Source to provide intuitive, customizable geo filtering on Linux.

  The Linux Flaw you can’t afford to Ignore (CVE-2021-3156) (Feb 8)
 

Like any OS, Linux and Unix OSes require regular patching - but as security professionals, ethical hackers, and criminal hackers will tell you, regular Linux and Unix patching is often neglected. Learn about a new critical rated Linux\Unix vulnerability you can't afford to ignore.
  Malware: Group Targeting Embassies Adds ‘Drovorub’ Campaign (Feb 12)
 

Russian digital espionage group Fancy Bear has incorporated a new Linux-based  malware dubbed Drovorub into their attack campaigns, according to the National Security Agency (NSA) and the FBI.
  Open source "vaccine passports:" Linux Foundation Public Health talks development, security, and digitally restoring trust (Feb 9)
 

The COVID-19 Credentials Initiative (CCI) - hosted by Linux Foundation Public Health (LFPH) - is working to standardize an approach to vaccination credentials.
  LibreOffice 7.1 Open-Source Office Suite Officially Released, This Is What’s New (Feb 8)
 

The Document Foundation has released the LibreOffice 7.1 open-source and cross-platform office suite for all supported platforms - a major release that introduces an array of new features and improvements.
  ktest: Automated Testing For Kernel Programmers (Feb 12)
 

Learn about ktest, a tool for making Linux kernel programmers' lives easier by automating certain aspects of Linux kernel testing.
  Debian GNU/Linux 10.8 “Buster” Released with 45 Security Updates (Feb 10)
 

The Debian Project has released Debian GNU/Linux 10.8 as the eighth ISO release for the stable Debian GNU/Linux 10 Buster OS series. This release comes with 45 security updates and 56 updated packages with miscellaneous bug fixes, including the recently released Linux kernel security update addressing 11 flaws, as well as a patch for the recent sudo vulnerability.
  Canonical Patches Kernel Security Vulnerability in Ubuntu 20.10 and 20.04 LTS, Update Now (Feb 11)
 

Canonical has released a new Linux kernel security update for its Ubuntu 20.10 (Groovy Gorilla) and Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa) systems to address a single security vulnerability that could allow a local attacker to crash the system by causing a denial of service (DoS) or run programs as an administrator (root).
  Enumerating a new network with Nmap (Feb 9)
 

Learn about some basic Nmap flags that you can use to generate a quick and useful network map to discover the scope of a network in a new environment, troubleshoot and manage network traffic.
  How to Add Fingerprint Login in Ubuntu and Other Linux Distributions (Feb 11)
 

GNOME and KDE now support fingerprint login through system settings. Learn how to add this convenient feature to your Linux desktop.
  How to use Red Hat Insights to maintain your Linux systems (Feb 10)
 

Red Hat Insights provides you with information on updates, vulnerabilities, configuration problems, and more. Learn how this product can help you maintain a secure Linux system.
  Should You Block Connections to Your Network From Foreign Countries? (Feb 15)
 

This LinuxSecurity.com article featured on the frontpage of Slashdot examines the concept of geo filtering and  how it could add a valuable layer of security to your firewall , and explores how the Geolocation for nftables project is leveraging Open Source to provide intuitive, customizable geo filtering on Linux.
  Here’s why you should be wary of installing anything that sets SELinux to permissive (Feb 15)
 

"Considering the irreparable harm that can be inflicted on users targeted by malware on a permissive SELinux environment, we strongly suggest everyone keep it on enforcing unless absolutely necessary." Learn why you should be wary of installing modules and applications that set SELinux to permissive.