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3 cool Linux apps to try this weekend (December 12 - 14)  How-To Geek

An anonymous reader quotes a report from the Guardian: Reddit has filed a challenge against Australia's under-16s social media ban in the high court, lodging its case two days after implementing age restrictions on its website. The company said in a Reddit post on Friday that while it agreed with protecting people under 16, the law "has the unfortunate effect of forcing intrusive and potentially insecure verification processes on adults as well as minors, isolating teens from the ability to engage in age-appropriate community experiences." Reddit said there was an "illogical patchwork" of platforms included in the ban. "As the Australian Human Rights Commission put it, 'There are less restrictive alternatives available that could achieve the aim of protecting children and young people from online harms, but without having such a significant negative impact on other human rights.'" Reddit argued it was a forum primarily for adults without the traditional social media features the government has "taken issue with." Reddit was challenging the law on the grounds it infringed on the implied freedom of political communication. It was also seeking to challenge whether Reddit could be considered an age-restricted social media platform under the legislation. It said it was not seeking to challenge the law to avoid compliance, and had implemented age-assurance measures since Wednesday. The company said the vast majority of Redditors were adults, and advertising wasn't targeted to children under 18. The Apple app store age rating for Reddit is 17+. "Despite the best intentions, this law is missing the mark on actually protecting young people online," Reddit said. "So, while we will comply with this law, we have a responsibility to share our perspective and see that it is reviewed by the courts."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

pearOS Is Back, Now Based on Arch Linux and Featuring the KDE Plasma Desktop  9to5Linux

Vulkan-based translation layer for Direct3D 7 on Linux, D7VK has a 1.0 release out now  GamingOnLinux

Vulkan-based translation layer for Direct3D 7 on Linux, D7VK has a 1.0 release out now  GamingOnLinux

Vulkan-based translation layer for Direct3D 7 on Linux, D7VK has a 1.0 release out now  GamingOnLinux

CyberVolk Hackers Group With New VolkLocker Payloads Attacks both Linux and Windows Systems  CybersecurityNews

CyberVolk Hackers Group With New VolkLocker Payloads Attacks both Linux and Windows Systems  CybersecurityNews

NVIDIA driver 580.119.02 released for Linux as the latest recommended stable version  GamingOnLinux

NVIDIA driver 580.119.02 released for Linux as the latest recommended stable version  GamingOnLinux

NVIDIA driver 580.119.02 released for Linux as the latest recommended stable version  GamingOnLinux

Linux Patches Fix eMMC Secure Erase Of 1GB Taking ~10 Minutes To Now Just 2 Seconds  Phoronix

Bye, Windows: Which Linux distribution should I use?  PCWorld

The SEC has granted the Depository Trust & Clearing Corp., or DTCC, a no-action letter allowing it to custody and recognize tokenized stocks, ETFs, and Treasuries on approved blockchains for three years. "Although this program is a pilot subject to various operational limitations, it marks a significant incremental step in moving markets onchain," SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce said in a statement. Bloomberg reports: With the permission, DTCC will also extend their record-keeping to the blockchain, Michael Winnike, global head of strategy and market solutions at DTCC Clearing & Securities Services, said in an interview. "It's the same legal entitlement, the same stock that you would hold in your account from the DTCC in traditional form," Winnike said. [...] The SEC's authorization of tokenization services only applies to a specific set of securities that trade often. The approval includes the Russell 1000 index which represents the 1,000 largest publicly traded US companies, as well as exchange-traded funds that track major indices and US Treasury bills, bonds and notes, Winnike said. "This allows us both to create value for the markets, while staying in a pre-defined pool of highly-liquid securities to start," said Winnike. The firm's ultimate aspiration is to add its entire depository, which represents $100 trillion in securities, to the blockchain, a move that would require further expansion of the no-action relief from the SEC, he said. Winnike said the tokenization service will help bridge the traditional and digital worlds in part because the new technology will have the same legal entitlements and controls as traditional markets, including freezing or forced transfers if assets are stolen. "This enables participants to adopt and integrate, because they know there is a trusted party that can recover their securities as needed" and can address potential errors, he said. The new blockchain service will also allow investors to move assets all the time, not just Monday through Friday when traditional markets are open. "That creates a lot of new utility," Winnike said. "It brings the two ecosystems together."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

CyberVolk Hackers Target Linux and Windows with New VolkLocker Payloads  Cyber Press

Cinnamon 6.6 Release Sets the Tone for the Next Linux Mint Release  It's FOSS

pearOS Is Back, Now Based on Arch Linux and Featuring the KDE Plasma Desktop  9to5Linux

pearOS Is Back, Now Based on Arch Linux and Featuring the KDE Plasma Desktop  9to5Linux

CyberVolk Hackers Target Linux and Windows Systems with New VolkLocker Payloads  gbhackers.com

Sometimes it seems like everyone just wants risk these days. Crypto. Sports gambling. Options trading, ETFs that magically yield 10% or more. However, if you’re in the opposite camp and you want the absolute least amount of risk, you’d want to retire off an investment that has a return that is fully-guaranteed, pays out a monthly income like clockwork, is even guaranteed to grow with inflation. Inflation was relatively mild for a long time until recently, but historically it has been a significant risk factor.

If that interests you, check out 3 Ways to Build an Inflation-Adjusted Pension by Allan Roth – which first reminds you that Social Security is exactly this! – but also introduces a new series of LifeX Inflation-Protected Longevity Income ETFs.

At current rates as of 12/11/25, the LifeX 2055 Inflation-Protected Longevity Income ETF (LIAM) contains a managed portfolio of United States Treasury Inflation Indexed Bonds (TIPS) that can provide you with a 4.26% guaranteed real withdrawal rate for 30 years. That means a $1,000,000 portfolio would distribute roughly $42,600 in annual income this year, but that number would increase with CPI inflation each year for 30 years (through the year 2055). At 3% average inflation, your 30th year’s income would have grown to over $100,000 a year. Of course, inflation could be a lot higher, which is why no private insurance company will sell you inflation protection over such a long period of time.

After those 30 years, you will be left with nothing. Your initial principal will be gone. Therefore, your income taken each year is partially a return of principal.

The expense ratio is 0.25%, which isn’t Vanguard-level but not horrible. I like that it does all of the work for you in a tidy ETF package, as building a TIPS ladder yourself can be a bit tricky (and do you want to keep doing it at age 80, 90?). Of course, I also worry about what happens if you bought a 30-year ladder at 65 and happen to live past 95. It could happen, and remember, this product is meant for the risk-averse folks that like to cover all the bases.

In general, I feel a TIPS ladder or equivalent that adjusts with inflation would work well in combination with a traditional annuity like an SPIA or a deferred longevity annuity that starts at a later age, which doesn’t adjust with inflation but does provide an higher initial fixed income that can last as long as you live. This is what I have set up for my parents – Social Security that rises with inflation, plus a joint income annuity that pays out as long as one is living.