Software updater snuck in a package that is unwanted

[John R. Sowden]

I have had a similar issue with Chrome, the browser written by a company 
who collects personal information.  This 'open source' program has part 
that is 'not open source'.  I cannot keep it off my computer.  Whenever 
I accept updates from Ubuntu (16.04), there is lots of 'chrome' afterwards.

When Linux started, at was all about freedom (from MS Windows).  Now 
Ubuntu, 'just another distribution of Linux', has taken on a life of its 
own and has decided what out Linux OS will be like.  I think this is 
going on everywhere nowadays.

I think, like the lack of a Foxpro database system, a free Linux with 
user choice, is a void in the available software today that is actually 
an opportunity for an enterprising group.

John Sowden



On 10/17/2017 07:19 AM, Oliver Grawert wrote:
> hi,
> Am Dienstag, den 17.10.2017, 15:06 +0100 schrieb Colin Law:
>> On 17 October 2017 at 11:15, Oliver Grawert <ogra at ubuntu.com> wrote:
>>> hi,
>>> Am Dienstag, den 17.10.2017, 06:51 +0800 schrieb Bret Busby:
>>>>
>>>> So, how do I remove this trojan horse, without destroying the
>>>> system?
>>>>
>>> this is an extremely funny statement given this is the package that
>>> exactly prevents you from getting any trojans viruses or other
>>> malicious bits on your system.
>>>
>>> by default this simply notifies you about available fixes for
>>> security
>>> holes that could be used by either of the above harmful bits of
>>> software ...
>> Are you sure? I have a recently installed 17.10 and it has defaulted
>> to install automatically, which I think is the correct default as a
>> basic user will then not have to worry about it.  Perhaps I changed
>> it
>> myself but I don't think so.
> hmm, it might have changed since 16.04 (or i might actually be
> completely wrong and 16.04 did download them already ... )
>
> in any case its not a hard thing to change the defaults in the system-
> settings ... it is definitely a feature to make your system more secure
> with either of the configs, whatever option you pick in the settings
> ...
>
> (but obviously some people prefer to live on the less secure side which
> is why you can easily remove the package)
>
> ciao
> 	oli
>
>