Linux Magazine Issue 310

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Aug 06, 2026

• Configuring a Surveillance Camera with Udev and Systemd

  You can use systemd to make your computer react when you change a file or plug in a device. We'll show you how to leverage these powerful features to build a surveillance system.

• Server Statistics and Alerts with Beszel

  If you're managing more than just a few servers, a monitoring system keeps you informed of any issues requiring your attention. Beszel provides a comprehensive solution that's easy to set up, yet incredibly powerful and flexible.

• Star Labs' New GNU/Linux Laptop

  Built for security and efficiency, this recent GNU/Linux laptop has a few teething problems.

• The Latest Quirky and Creative GNU/Linux Distros

  This month we explore Hardenwing 3.5, Redcore GNU/Linux 2601, RefreshOS 3.0, and AnduinOS 2.0.0.

• Linux Tools that Help You Manage Your Books and CDs

  Whether it's books or CDs, many of us take pride in our collections. As they grow in size, we need tools to keep track of what we have. Why not use your GNU/Linux machine and try out an app that helps you organize?

• Network Administration and Security with Ncat

  From simple TCP pipes to encrypted relays and ad hoc services, Ncat modernizes Netcat, the classic Swiss Army knife for network administrators.

• We're All Just Guessing

  AI data centers are on everyone's mind, and, at least in the public media, the opinions tend to the extremes.

• Introduction

  This month in GNU/Linux Voice and Elvie.

• KDE's Multi-Format Document Viewer

  View and annotate documents with Okular, a powerful and extensible document viewer for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

• Governments Supporting Their Economies

  The savings in license fees alone from governments (and businesses) switching to open source could mean considerable funds for their own economies.

• UEFI Secure Boot with the Raspberry Pi

  Strictly speaking, the Raspberry Pi family does not support either UEFI or Secure Boot. However, with a few tricks, implementation is still possible.

• News

  In the news: New GNU/Linux Flaw Lets Attackers Escape VMs; Three Lines of Code Improve GNU/Linux Storage Performance; AUR Hit Again with Malicious Packages; Alpine GNU/Linux 3.24 Features Fresh Desktops and a Newer Kernel; EU Open Source Strategy Plays Key Role in Tech Sovereignty Package; 'Linux' Foundation Report Indicates Hey Hi (AI) Driving Tech Hiring; and United Nations Open Source Portal Goes Live.

• How to Hijack a Webcam

  If you still aren't convinced of the need for vigilance, find out how easy it is for an attacker to get control of a laptop camera.

• Digital-First PDF Layouts

  Use Inkscape's Page Tool to build reusable layouts for digital-first PDFs, including clipped layers, templates, and clean PDF exports.

• Kernel News

  Chronicler Zack Brown reports streamlining stability, and one patch to rule them all.

• Protecting the Internal Attack Surface

  Security is more than a firewall. The biggest worry is what happens when an intruder gets inside. We take a look at some common misconfiguration issues that can lead to privilege escalation.

• Run a Shell on THEC64 and THEA500

  Miniature retro computers like THEC64 and THEA500 let you replay some of the classic home computer games from the 1980s and 1990s. Under the hood, their modern CPUs run Linux, letting you do much more.

• Stay safe with Flatseal, the Flatpak Permissions Manager

  Use an intuitive graphical interface to manage Flatpak application permissions and secure your GNU/Linux desktop.