Q. For the benefit of our readers, who are new to the concept, what exactly is ‘free’ software?
A. It’s best described by the phrase, “Free as in Freedom, and not Free as in Free Beer.” So, when I talk about free software (aka Swatantra software), I am not referring to the cost of the software but to the level of freedom it provides to the user.
Q. How satisfied are you with the progress in the free software world?
A. We are moving towards horrible tyranny. People are being pressurised to use devices having non-free software for their day-to-day activities. And non-free software is malware. We have listed over 500 examples on gnu.org/ malware. If a company has control over the software you are using, then it is almost sure to use that control to mistreat you. However, it is possible to refuse, as I do that myself.
I refuse to have a portable phone as every portable phone is a tracking device, which can be modified into a listening device. These so-called smartphones—I call them ‘snoop’ phones—invite you to talk to various online services or ‘disservices.’ But in the process, they snoop on you terribly; they can manipulate and pressurise you. It’s not an acceptable kind of technology.
Q. How do you define malware?A. Mal
ware is software designed to mistreat, harm, or annoy the user. Users might be expected to stop this abuse if they could control what the software does.
Q. Do you consider marketing messages as malware?
This story is from the February 2023 edition of Open Source For You.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2023 edition of Open Source For You.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Logging: Working with the Loki Operator
By harnessing the capabilities of logging and the Loki Operator within the s390x architecture, organisations can effectively manage, analyse, and derive actionable insights from log data. This twopart article series explains how this can be done.
Hyperledger: An Overview
Hyperledger stands out as a comprehensive suite of open source blockchain frameworks and tools designed to meet the diverse needs of modern enterprises. By offering robust, scalable, and modular solutions, it empowers organisations to leverage blockchain technology for enhanced security, transparency, and efficiency.
AI Databases: Ensuring the Quality of LLMs in Chatbots
Digital transformation initiatives and the need for 24/7 customer support have been instrumental in propelling the adoption of Al chatbots. But these bots need authentic and well-developed large language models LLMs) to work efficiently. LLMs, in turn, are dependent on Al databases that are built on data that is consistent, complete and accurate. There are quite a few open source and free Al databases to choose from.
Harnessing Open Source Solutions for Robust Data Management and Security
Imagine a realm where your data is not just stored, but meticulously managed, safeguarded, and easily recoverable. Welcome to the world of open source data management and security solutions. Here, collaborative development meets cutting-edge technology, creating a symbiotic relationship that ensures data transparency, reliability, and accessibility.
What it Takes to Manage Data in the Digital Era
Effective data management helps to streamline business operations, enhance decision-making, drive innovation, and improve business efficiency and competitiveness. There are a number of open source tools that can be used to manage data efficiently, ensuring its security and privacy.
Internet Protocols Explained
In the second part of this series of articles on internet protocols, we shall delve into the journey from unsecure protocols to secure protocols, with a focus on securing the transport and application layers in the OSI model.
Strategising Data Management in the Cloud
Businesses are increasingly turning to cloud-based solutions for data management. A robust cloud data management strategy offers significant benefits like scalability, cost-efficiency, and enhanced security. Let's explore the key components of an effective strategy and how businesses can leverage them for optimal results.
Organising Data in the Cloud is No Mean Feat
Data management is a complex process, made tougher due to the humongous amount of data being generated each day. Databases were developed to make sense of this data but these need to evolve continuously with the increasing demands being made on them. Following a few best practices will also help to manage data well.
How AI will Change Everyday Life
Al is already impacting our lives in various ways, and promises to be ubiquitous in the near future. But the challenges will need to be addressed, especially to ensure it helps make decisions that are ethical and free of any bias.
"What distinguishes an average DevOps engineer from a proficient one is programming skills!"
Suman Debnath, Principal Machine Learning Advocate at AWS, attributes his first experiments with open source to his curiosity to build better tools when he was working at Toshiba.
