Ad when logging SSH into Ubuntu? | Hacker News Reader

Ad when logging SSH into Ubuntu?

8 pointsuberman11 comments

I'm not sure if this is new or not, but it is the first time I have noticed it. When I ssh into an ubuntu workstation I now see:

Expanded Security Maintenance for Applications is not enabled.

Enable ESM Apps to receive additional future security updates.

See https://ubuntu.com/esm or run: sudo pro status

Is this ad a new thing or have I just not been paying attention?

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I suspect there is an age trigger in Ubuntu (and distributions that use Ubuntu as a base, like Linux Mint) that sets up this ad for older installs of Ubuntu so you can pay for extended updates for 10 years.

Remove the execute bit from these two files and you shouldn't see the message again: sudo chmod -x /etc/update-motd.d/88-esm-available /etc/update-motd.d/91-contract-ua-esm-status

I've done this and still get the messages in my MOTD when I log in.

I think I remember seeing this about 6 months ago. That's when I started having a strong urge to replace Ubuntu on my desktop with FreeBSD.

Ubuntu is an excellent open source operating system available at no cost. Companies pay developers write software, and have to survive. Sometimes they notify users of the available upgrades, in case someone is interested. That makes perfect sense.

I’m thankful of the FOSS, and don’t mind upgrade notifications (and submit crash reports).

This isn't an excuse to push unwanted ads on my machine that nobody asked for.

You're free to use another distro or just re-build it from the source without the ads.

Can't change the distro at work with hundreds of my coworkers being subjected to this, can I?

I would prefer if one of the biggest linux distros in the world did not force this upon everyone.

Ubuntu has been pulling this for years afaik. I distinctly recall getting some ad for a Canonical Kubernetes implementation a while back too.

Yep: https://motd.ubuntu.com/

It isn't new.

Here is Ubuntu in 2018 deliberately pushing bit.ly links to their blog to track you in when you login to your box.

https://ostechnix.com/how-to-disable-ads-in-terminal-welcome...

Absolutely vile behaviour from Ubuntu / Canonical.

touch ~/.hushlogin

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