National Security Agency Linux

I was perusing Wired's Worst Tech Moments of 2005 when I ran across a link to the NSA's version of Linux. As any fan of Linux will tell you, the appeal of the OS is the ability to change, configure, and re-write the system to meet your exact needs. While it isn't a task for Linux newbies, this is where the real advantage of Linux as an OS exists. The National Security Agency (and Central Security Service, which sounds much more ominous to me) took the Linux ball some years ago and ran with it for their own needs. Case in point: a Linux distro from the NSA.

Obviously this distribution is designed with a focus on security. From their site: "This version of Linux has a strong, flexible mandatory access control architecture incorporated into the major subsystems of the kernel. The system provides a mechanism to enforce the separation of information based on confidentiality and integrity requirements. This allows threats of tampering and bypassing of application security mechanisms to be addressed and enables the confinement of damage that can be caused by malicious or flawed applications."

Now if you're wanting to meet "T-Top" you'll have to check out a little fun site from the NSA/CSS: CryptoKids— America's Future Codemakers and Codebreakers. Just a little site for the kids who want to practice cryptography, or learn how to spy. You can also hunt around for the 4th amendment, but don't think you'll find it on the site...

Tags: linux, opensource, security