No More Windows! Indian Defense Services are Switching to Linux
In the past, we have seen governments trying to switch to Linux for their administration needs. But, that usually comes with its own set of challenges, ranging from interoperability, all the way to training the end-users.
And as it turns out, the Indian government is all set to take up that challenge once again by implementing an internally developed Linux distro.
Allow me to take you through this endeavor.
Update (by Roy)
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Defence Ministry to switch to locally built OS Maya amid threats
In the face of increasing cyber and malware attacks on defence as well as critical infrastructure across the country, the Defence Ministry has decided to replace the Microsoft Operating System (OS) in all computers connected to the Internet with a new OS, Maya, based on open-source Ubuntu developed locally.
Neowin:
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India's Defence Ministry plans to replace Windows with its own Ubuntu-based Maya OS
India is getting ready to make a major change in its Internet-connected computers in its critical Defence Ministry agency. A new report claims the agency will replace Windows inside all of its Internet-connected PCs with its own operating system.
The Indian Express reports that the country's Defence Ministry has been developing Maya OS as the replacement for Windows on its PCs. Maya OS is based on Ubuntu, which itself is based on Linux. The article states...
Another pair:
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India’s Defence Ministry to ditch Windows for homegrown Ubuntu-based Maya OS
India’s Defence Ministry is planning to replace Microsoft Windows with a new operating system called Maya in all its internet-connected computers, as part of a major overhaul of its cybersecurity system.
The move is a response to the growing threat of malware and ransomware attacks, which have become more frequent and severe in recent times, targeting the country’s critical infrastructure and defence systems. The idea of Maya OS was conceived in 2021 after India faced several cyberattacks from foreign actors that targeted its critical infrastructure and defence systems. The Defence Ministry decided to create its own operating system that would be more secure and reliable than Microsoft Windows.
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Desi Maya OS: ‘Safer’ Ubuntu Wins As India Says NO To Microsoft Windows
It’s free. It’s safer. And no more annoying Windows updates! The Indian government is looking to replace the Windows operating system on computers used in the Defence Ministry with a new indigenous operating system called Maya OS. Having a new operating system (OS), that too for the government is a challenge but the Ministry claims that Maya OS is being introduced to thwart cyber threats and also reduce the dependence on OS made by global tech companies, like Microsoft. Not to forget, Maya OS is free, so, the government will no longer have to spend on getting genuine Windows licences or pay for expensive Microsoft Word and other services.
In SN:
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India's Defense Services Are Switching to GNU/Linux
However, the attacks in and of themselves are less of a problem than the fact that a large, and increasing, number of them are successful against that aging legacy desktop operating system.
For India to pull this off successfully, they must study how their opponent has maneuvered over the years against GNU/Linux deployments and in particular look at case studies like Kerala, Munich, Lower Saxony, Vaasa, and Turku. India's opponent in this move has had many programmes, years ago one was EDGI, and a long standing mandate that "under NO circumstances lose against Linux".
The Hindu:
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Why is India’s Defence Ministry ditching Microsoft Windows for Ubuntu-based Maya OS
India’s Defence Ministry is ditching Microsoft Windows for Ubuntu-based Maya which has been developed by Indian government agencies within six months, and is aimed at preventing malware attacks by cybercriminals
Indian armed forces gives Windows its marching orders:
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Indian armed forces gives Windows its marching orders • The Register
Indian mythology is rich beyond measure in tales of gods, demons, and humans doing battle. Deception, alliances, betrayal, supernatural weaponry, and devastating consequences tangle with morality and greed. If you think that sounds like today's global technology maelstrom, that's forgivable.
So when the Indian Ministry of Defence announced that it would be ditching Microsoft Windows in favor of "locally developed" open source Maya OS to increase security, it's fair to see this as part of the great cycle of conflict between FOSS and proprietary systems. Such decisions are never purely pragmatic, even though that's frequently the justification, and when policy rather than practicality has the upper hand, the results can be excitingly mixed.
Gadgets360:
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Maya OS to Replace Microsoft Windows on Defence Ministry Computers Amid Rising Cyber Threats: Details
Maya OS is set to replace Windows as the operating system on the Defence Ministry's computers, according to a report. Instead of Microsoft's widely used proprietary operating system (OS), the Ministry of Defence will use a Linux-based OS based on the popular Ubuntu distribution. The OS was reportedly developed by government agencies over a period of six months in response to rising cybersecurity threats and is equipped with built-in malware protection for computers that are connected to the Internet.
The Hindu recently reported that the Ministry of Defence has begun to replace Internet-connected computers with a new operating system called Maya OS. It is based on the free and open-source Linux distribution Ubuntu that is maintained by British firm Canonical. However, unlike traditional Linux-based distros, the Maya OS interface looks similar to Microsoft Windows, which could aid in the transition process.
Late coverage: