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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Linux Mint Will Hide Unverified Flatpaks in Software Manager (www.omgubuntu.co.uk)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 60 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (28 children)

Examples of unverified apps:

... these would be hidden by default. Is any of these applications dangerous or a security risk to the system / user?

Linux Mint:

Unverified Flatpaks represent a huge security risk.

I personally don't like this. This is not really true and in worse case even misleading and giving a false sense of security. If an app represents a huge security risk, why in the first place is it allowed in the repository? Unverified does not mean its a security risk, this is their interpretation of it. Unverified simply means, it is not verified by the original author.

Create a fork of an app and verify your website with the fork in Flatpak. The system is already broken. Another point is, that lot of unverified apps are just normal apps, as this is the way applications are handled in Linux. We have the right to create alternative versions of the programs and the verification badge will show that. There is no point in hiding alternatives. By doing so, it undermines a reason why we use GPL and Open Source. And what about apps where the original author does not care, but was brought to Flatpak by a community member?

Flathub:

It's similar failure to what Flathub does on their site too, but for another thing.

Potentially unsafe: Full file system read/write access; Can access some specific files

Even though LibreOffice is verified, it is marked as potentially unsafe application on Flathub.

[–] GregorGizeh 29 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (18 children)

I think it is a stupid change myself, but as far as I (recent Linux convert) can tell, mint is considered the go to distro for people coming freshly over from windows, and decidedly caters to beginners. A default setting for maximum user protection makes sense for that.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Who thinks that? Mint users?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I've seen many articles, comments and videos praising mint for being friendly to users coming from windows. It looks nice and I've been impressed by the friendliness and helpfulness of their forums - if I switched on my laptop I would try mint first.