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Late Night Linux Late Night Linux – Episode 371
10 snips
Feb 2, 2026 They unpack a Snap store hijack that let attackers push malware through expired publisher domains. A user mistakenly replaced their desktop while installing ProtonVPN, sparking a debate about package management and immutable desktops. UK policy moves on digital ID and proposals to age-gate social media and VPNs get scrutinized. A project called Mission Libre seeks to introduce 11–14 year olds to Free Software.
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Store Trust Can Be Hijacked
- Curated app stores inherit trust but still get abused through domain hijacking and lookalike tricks.
- The move from distro repos to direct-developer distribution trades vetting for speed, increasing malware risk.
Prefer Safer Packaging For Critical Software
- Prefer distro-maintained repos for high-assurance software where possible, because maintainers act as a vetting buffer.
- Use sandboxed formats like Flatpak or immutable distros to reduce dangerous system-level changes.
Installing ProtonVPN Replaced Desktop
- A Linux Mint user installed ProtonVPN instructions and accidentally selected GDM, replacing their desktop with GNOME.
- Joe reproduced the steps in a VM and showed how classic package installs can catastrophically change a system.
