PeppermintOS has released a new systemd-free build based on Devuan 6 "Excalibur," giving users another choice alongside the project's regular Debian 13-based images. This new version is designed for users who like the lightweight and practical PeppermintOS desktop experience but prefer to avoid systemd. In other words, it offers the familiar PeppermintOS environment while staying aligned with the Devuan ecosystem, which is well known for supporting alternative init systems.

Linux administrators have another serious vulnerability to deal with, and this one deserves quick attention. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, better known as CISA, has warned that attackers are now actively exploiting a Linux security flaw known as "Copy Fail". The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-31431, can allow an unprivileged local user to gain root access on affected Linux systems.

On paper, a 12-core CPU sounds like it should be comfortably competitive in 2026-era workloads, especially if you're lining it up against mainstream desktop parts. But real performance is a mix of architecture, clocks, platform maturity, and software optimisation, not just core count. That's why the latest Linux benchmark results for Loongson's 12-core 3B6000 are getting attention.

Remote desktop software is one of those things you only truly appreciate once you rely on it every day. Maybe you've got a desktop tucked away in another room for heavy work, a laptop you carry around the house, or a family member who calls you when "the internet broke again." Whatever the reason, the goal is always the same: connect quickly, control smoothly, and don't open a security nightmare in the process.

In a year where more users are questioning their relationship with Windows, Zorin OS 18 has quietly become one of Linux's biggest success stories. In less than three months, the distro has surpassed 2 million downloads, with a significant portion of that growth coming from people leaving Windows behind.