Linux Mint 17.3 Cinnamon ISO briefly replaced with hacked version
Linux Mint 173 Iso Download Torrent
Linux Mint is distributed into two editions, one with the classic and low on resources MATE window manager and another one with the modern Cinnamon, a clone of the GNOME 3 desktop. Just like the Cinnamon edition, the MATE flavor described here is available for download as two Live DVD ISO images, one for each of the supported. How to download with idm.
Linux Mint team announced the final version of Linux Mint 17.3 Rosa based on Ubuntu 14.04.3 Trusty. It is available in Cinnamon and Mate editions, this release includes application updates and hardware driver updates. Linux Mint 17.3 is a long term support release which will be supported until 2019. If you downloaded Linux Mint 17.3 on 20th, Feb, 2016 then it is the hacked one. If you doubt then you can check it using MD5 hash provided by Linux Mint team for Linux Mint 17.3. How To Check If Your ISO Is Hacked Or Not. Topics Puppy Linux, Mintpup, Mint, wanderer, saintless a new Pup in the style off debiandog, the original idea by wanderer Mintpup is provided by saintless and uses Linux Mint 17.1 'Rebecca' - Xfce (32-bit) as it's base. Linux Mint is an elegant, easy to use, up to date and comfortable GNU/Linux desktop distribution.
Blog post, announcing the problem.
The malware the compromised Mint would run, making the host part of a botnet.
Hacker News discussion, with some interesting points made.
My immediate thought was 'hoax'. It was not: the direct download ISO, thankfully not the torrent seed as well, was compromised.
I assume that Canonical's server infrastructure is more secure (apparently Mint has HTTPS 'planned').
TL;DR Hackers used a WordPress vulnerability to gain shell access to the distribution server yesterday and replace the bona fide ISO with one containing malware.