[xubuntu-users] "System program problem detected"

[Rob Ward]

On 10/07/15 19:05, Ralf Mardorf wrote:
> On Fri, 10 Jul 2015 17:21:55 +1000, Rob Ward wrote:
>>> Eric Christopherson wrote:
>>>
>>>> Lately I've been getting this strange dialog saying
>>>>
>>>>       System program problem detected
>>>>
>>>>       Do you want to report the problem now?
>>>>
>>>>       [Cancel] [Report problem...]
>> Just slightly off topic, but how we know when we respond to these
>> alerts and we blithely type in our password to authorise the details
>> to be sent off that we know that the alert is genuine and not just
>> a faked up window to capture our password??
>> I am never logged in as root, but routinely use my password in
>> these situations.
>> I am not doubting Eric's problem exists, but I am often unsure
>> about various alerts I get, and how secure my response is?
> It's dubious if a window pops up, asking for your password, to send data
> through the Internet. I already would be careful with software that
> asks to send a bug report, when the root password isn't needed.
> Note, even the information of the full window size could be used to
> track you, that's why TOR browser warns you to not full size the TOR
> browser window. You might have stored some unencrypted passwords in
> files that only need user permissions, that's why on serious mailing
> lists, developers always mention to check log files, debug files etc.
> against passwords and to remove them before posting them in a bug
> report.
>
> Those bug report tools are simply spyware and should be abandoned. Even
> if the original bug report software should guarantee complete
> anonymity (but it doesn't!), you never know if it's the original
> software or phishing software.
>
> Turn of all "phone home" options, of all the software you are using,
> resp. be aware that you can't do this for e.g. some much used Web
> Browsers.
>
> However, be careful with bug reports, especially with bots that
> sends data to Canonical. Canonical is known for including spyware to
> Ubuntu.
>
> http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/ubuntu-spyware.en.html
>
> Regards,
> Ralf
>
Cheers Ralf,
I appreciate your feedback,
much appreciated.
What does it mean though when the Root password_is _required?? erh, 
requested??
Most of them occur in Application windows not browser windows?
And if we don't use them, can we expect software to improve?
Rob

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/xubuntu-users/attachments/20150710/7b903b53/attachment.html>