Destination Linux

455: The ID Verification Nightmare: Is Your Privacy Dead?

Welcome to episode 455 of Destination Linux! This week, Ryan and Jill are tackling one of the biggest emerging threats to your online privacy: mandatory ID verification. Ryan delivers a massive, impassioned call to action on why we must protect our digital anonymity and push back against these invasive policies before it's too late. But that's not all! We’re also discussing Proton's surprising move away from Switzerland and what it means for your secure data. Plus, we dive into Intel's latest push for Linux gaming, explore some fantastic file-sharing applications, and talk about our excitement for the upcoming Southern California Linux Expo (SCaLE). Grab your favorite beverage, pull up a chair, and let's get into the latest in Linux and open source! Head to deviantairwaves.com to become a Patron and support the show Chapters / Timestamps: 00:00:00 Welcome to Destination Linux 00:01:22 Community Feedback on Matrix 00:03:00 The Threat of ID Verification 00:18:04 Supporting Our Patrons 00:19:36 Exploring File Sharing Apps 00:29:14 The Southern California Linux Expo 00:33:41 Intel's Focus on Linux Gaming 00:41:00 Proton's Move from Switzerland 00:55:34 Thank You and Community Engagement

454: Zen Browser: The Modern Firefox We’ve Been Waiting For? Plus Security Scoop With Craig Rowland

The "Modern Firefox" has arrived, but is it secure? In this episode of Destination Linux, we explore the Zen Browser, a gorgeous, privacy-respecting fork of Firefox that’s modernizing the web with vertical tabs and split views. But beauty isn’t everything, so we brought in the ultimate defense specialist, Craig Rowland from Sandfly Security, to help us navigate the increasingly hostile digital landscape. From AI-driven phishing attacks to the Notepad++ supply chain breach, Craig gives us a masterclass in "agentless" security and how to stay safe without bloating your system. We also break down Linux Kernel 6.19, featuring a 40% performance boost for older AMD hardware and the path toward stable HDR on the Linux desktop. Grab your favorite beverage, put down that USB drive, and let’s get started! Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome to Destination Linux 00:01:07 Community Feedback 00:07:57 Security Scoop with Craig 00:08:30 Browser Extensions and Security 00:16:41 Agentic AI and Privacy Concerns 00:26:28 Notepad's Security Vulnerabilities 00:30:42 Notepad++ Supply Chain Attack 00:35:52 Linux Kernel 6.19 Updates 00:48:04 Exploring the Zen Browser 00:55:39 Closing Thoughts and Thanks Head to deviantairwaves.com to support the show! Become a Patron or buy some amazing swag! Special Guest: Craig Rowland.

453: Leveling Up: Lutris Creator Mathieu Comandon & Finding Zen in the Browser Wars

This week on Destination Linux, we are joined by a true legend of the open-source world: Mathieu Comandon, the creator and lead developer of Lutris. We dive deep into how Lutris became the "One Launcher to Rule Them All," managing everything from GOG and Epic Games to your retro console emulators. Check out Lutris here: https://lutris.net Mathieu gives us the inside scoop on the new Playtron partnership, the UMU (Unified Media Updater) initiative and we even discuss how Lutris helps non-gamers install apps. Plus, we tackle the Discord Debacle, are chat apps losing their way? Whether you're a distro-hopper, a Steam Deck user, or just here for the "shenanigans," this episode is your ultimate guide to the Linux-verse. Support the Show: Destination Linux is a podcast supported by the viewers, for the viewers. Become a Patron to get exclusive perks! Go to: www.deviantairwaves.com to learn more! Chapters: 00:00:00 Intro: Welcome to the Lutris Playground 00:01:28 Community Feedback: Gaming the Linux Way 00:11:01 Sponsored by YOU, the Awesome Penguins 00:11:22 Interview: Leveling Up with Mathieu from Lutris 00:13:30 What Is Lutris? One Launcher to Rule Them All 00:15:53 Lutris + Playtron 00:20:31 Jill’s Humble Brag 00:22:26 What Is UMU? Proton’s Fancy Cousin 00:28:33 Why Every Gamer Should Care About Lutris 00:29:47 Beyond Games: Installing “Real Work” in Lutris 00:30:35 Lutris Flatpak: One Click to Game City 00:36:39 Rootkits & Kernel Anti-Cheat: Boss Fight Mode 00:40:11 Headless Docker: Ghost Servers for Your Games 00:41:25 Wish List: “Send To” Magic Button 00:43:28 How Lutris Helps Non-Gamers (Yes, Really) 00:47:04 Tech YouTubers Jumping on the Linux Hype Train 00:48:51 Do Devs Even Have Time to Game? 00:50:37 Will AI Actually Help with Game Support? 00:58:55 How You Can Help Lutris Level Up 01:01:04 Lightning Round: Quick‑Fire Gaming Questions 01:06:27 Discord Debacle: Chat Apps Behaving Badly 01:15:56 Teaser for Next Week’s Linux Shenanigans 01:16:20 Outro: Keep Your Penguins Gaming

452: Can Open Source Save Us from the AI Dystopia?

Can Open Source save the world? In episode 452, the crew dives deep into the "In-Between Dystopia" of AI layoffs and whether we are headed toward a Star Trek-style post-scarcity economy or a Mad Max wasteland. We also discuss why governments are finally breaking up with Big Tech to build sovereign stacks like La Suite, and why this is a massive win for the FOSS ecosystem. Plus, we look at Firefox’s return to its roots, the latest security blunders in the "Heap of the Maggots," and a surprising Linux update from GOG. Support the show by going to deviantairwaves.com and become a Patron or get some SWAG! 00:00 Intro: Open Source Can Still Save the World 01:06 Community Feedback: Star Trek or Mad Max? 03:46 Star Trek Nerd Fight: TNG vs DS9 vs TOS 05:04 AI Layoffs & the In‑Between Dystopia 06:52 Will We Ever Reach the Star Trek Economy? 07:54 Jill Corrects “Star Track” & Defends TOS 09:04 Capitalism, Greed & Why Jill Still Has Hope 09:53 Zeb’s View: Shareholders, NVIDIA & AI Hype 12:27 Why Destination Linux Stays Out of Politics 15:02 Sponsored by Our Awesome Patrons 17:47 Governments Break Up with Big Tech 19:28 Visio & La Suite: Building a Sovereign Stack 20:02 Why This Government Trend Is a Win for FOSS 26:29 Could We Run DL on La Suite Someday? 28:17 Firefox News: Our Favorite Browser Fights Back 31:42 Firefox Getting Back to Its Roots 33:14 Open Source Moves Faster to Fix Things 34:16 Heap of the Maggots: Security Hall of Shame 35:27 Notepad++ Gets Hacked 38:39 How Can Companies Protect Themselves from Hackers? 43:26 The Biggest Threat Vector 49:17 Jill Finds a Game She Doesn’t Like 50:47 GOG Shows Linux Some Love 56:43 Outro: Keep Your Penguins Marching

451: The Ultimate SCaLE 23x Guide & The End of Private Encryption?

In episode 451 of Destination Linux, we are joined by Ilan Rabinovitch and Hannah Anderson from the Southern California Linux Expo (SCaLE 23x). We dive deep into what makes SCaLE one of the premier open-source events in the world, what attendees can look forward to this year, and essential tips for first-timers. Whether you are looking for your first role in tech or your next big career move, we discuss how to effectively network and leverage conferences to grow professionally. In the news, we cover the latest Google Voice Assistant settlement and the implications for user privacy. We also take a look at the troubling reports of Microsoft potentially turning over Bitlocker keys and the ongoing privacy concerns surrounding WhatsApp’s data practices. Use code 'LOL' for 40% off Scale23x Head to deviantairwaves.com to get more show content! 0:10 Welcome to Destination Linux 1:47 Listener Feedback 4:40 New Patron Shoutout 5:21 ScALE 23x Discussion & Interview 48:10 Privacy and Security Concerns 1:08 Final Thoughts and Goodbye