[Bug 279973] Re: PrintScreen key causes many apps to suddenly die if you are running in Linux text mode

[Bug Watch Updater]

** Changed in: console-setup (Debian)
       Status: New => Fix Released

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/279973

Title:
  PrintScreen key causes many apps to suddenly die if you are running in
  Linux text mode

Status in “console-data” package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed
Status in “console-setup” package in Ubuntu:
  Fix Released
Status in “kbd” package in Ubuntu:
  Invalid
Status in “console-data” package in Debian:
  Fix Released
Status in “console-setup” package in Debian:
  Fix Released

Bug description:
  Binary package hint: console-data

  On Ubuntu 8.04, in console mode, the PrintScreen key sends ^\ which
  sends SIGQUIT to the running application.  Depending which application
  you are running, this may cause it to dump core.  So this single wrong
  keystroke can cause data loss.  Most text editors are unaffected, but
  most other apps are affected.

  This problem has affected most Linux PCs for almost a decade now, but
  AFAICT nobody has ever filed a proper bug report about it with the
  kernel folks or with Ubuntu.  People have complained on mailing lists
  though.

  == Steps to repro ==

  1.  Press Control+Alt+F1
  2.  Log in
  3.  Do one of the following:
       a) type "sudo aptitude" then spend fifteen minutes looking through the list of packages and picking what you want, OR
       b) start up the "lynx" browser then spend 15 minutes editing a Wikipedia article
  4.  In the middle of step 3, accidentally press the Print Screen key on your keyboard.

  == What happens ==

  * When you press PrtSc, the kernel sends the ^\ (Control-Backslash) key combination to the terminal.  This is by design, but it is a bad design.  It causes data loss.
  *  ^\ sends a SIGQUIT signal, causing the application to immediately abort and dump core.

  == What should have happened ==

  * When you press PrtSc, the kernel should not send ^\ -- it should
  either send a different key combination, or send nothing at all.

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