Next Linux kernel ‘securer than Windows'

POSSIBLY STUNG by accusations that Linux may not after all have the edge over Windows in the security stakes, the open source platform's backers seem to be doing all they can to talk up its ‘trustworthy' credentials.

Colorado-based developer Jonathan Corbet used Australia's annual Linux wonkfest this week to assure security-minded users in the business community that the next release of the platform's kernel will include support for trusted computing.

The current kernel, 2.6.11, will soon be succeeded by 2.6.12, which will also incorporate support for so-called SELinux (security enhanced Linux) for multi-level security.

Also aimed at making Linux more enticing for business users will be input from leading commercial Linux distributor Red Hat on address space randomization for defence against buffer overflow attacks, and support for high end storage systems.

So when will 2.6.12 be out? That's where it all starts to get hazy. Apparently not even Linus Torvalds himself is prepared to drop any clues on this one. ‘It'll happen when it happens' seems to about the most anyone on the inside track is prepared to say. I guess it would be unfair at this point to make some jibe about woolly-minded hobbyists being unable to commit to a firm schedule, as it's not as though regular closed source software ever seems to ship on time any way.

A friend who is a Unix/Linux geek was horrified at my suggestion that I appease those open source enthusiasts offended by my recent stories on the subject by offering them each a bar of soap and a clean shirt by way of an olive branch. So I won't mention that either. µ

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