The Linux kernel has released several point updates to address boot issues on some PCs. The latest versions include 6.19.2, 6.18.2, 6.12.73, and 6.6.126, which all contain the same fix for a driver-core change that was causing system crashes during startup. This change, introduced in the driver core, forced every call to driver_match_device() to hold device_lock, but this protection never made it into older branches of the kernel, leading to "unable to acquire device lock" errors. Reverting this change is seen as a pragmatic move, allowing users to continue using their systems while maintainers work on cherry-picking necessary patches to fix the issue.

The Linux kernel releases, 6.18.11, 6.12.72, and 6.6.125, bring numerous security-related bug fixes and stability improvements that affect various aspects of the system, including Wi-Fi drivers and file-system handling. The updates fix issues such as a deadlock in OMAP driver registration, a PCI endpoint configfs race, and a file-system crash caused by a use-after-free error. Additionally, these kernel releases address problems with USB ID support for Edimax EW-7611UXB, crypto virtio tweaks to prevent unnecessary traffic and improve locking, and SMB protocol robustness to stop an infinite loop caused by malformed requests. Updating to the latest kernels is recommended to protect systems from hard-to-debug crashes and make Wi-Fi and USB devices behave more predictably, although users are advised to back up their data before upgrading.

The latest reviews and articles cover a range of tech products, from gaming accessories like the GameSir G8+ MFi mobile controller to gaming chairs such as the DXRacer Martian Pro Red Triangle. Headphones are also featured, including an on-budget option from OneOdio, while keyboard enthusiasts can check out the Epomaker RT82 Review, which tests a 75% keyboard with creamy switches. For network and power enthusiasts, reviews of the Netgear Nighthawk M7 mobile hotspot and ASRock Steel Legend SL-1000P PSU are available, along with a review of the Eaton 5E 1600 Gen2 Line Interactive UPS for protecting against unstable power. These products offer a mix of innovative features, high performance, and affordability, making them worth considering for tech enthusiasts looking to upgrade their gear.

Gaming: GameSir G8+ MFi review: a nearly perfect mobile controller, DXRacer Martian Pro Red Triangle review: Built for the fans
Headphones: OneOdio Focus A1 Pro review: on budget, on-ear headphones
Input: Epomaker RT82 Review
Networking: Netgear Nighthawk M7 5G Wi-Fi 7 mobile hotspot review – Global eSIM marketplace is a game-changer
Power: ASRock Steel Legend SL-1000P ATX v3.1 PSU Review, Eaton 5E 1600 Gen2 Line Interactive UPS Review

The new Liquorix Kernel 6.18-12 offers improved low-latency power for Debian, Ubuntu, and Arch systems without sacrificing stability. It drops support for BTF module loading to achieve faster boot times on older hardware and lower input latency with a built-in scheduler swap to Kyber or BFQ. Users can install the kernel quickly using an official script that auto-detects their system type, or build their own packages with Docker for a more transparent workflow. The Liquorix kernel features various low-latency improvements such as Zen Interactive Tuning and High-Resolution 1000 Hz Tick, making it ideal for gaming and real-time tasks.

Ondřej Surý has released updated PHP packages for Debian users, including PHP 8.5.3 and 8.4.18, which offer improved performance, bug fixes, and security patches over Debian's native PHP stack. By adding Surý's repository to their system, users can access the latest PHP versions without having to wait months for official updates or turn their system into a "Frankenstein build." To install these packages, users need to ensure their host can speak HTTPS to apt and then run a series of commands to fetch the signing key, add the repository source, and refresh the package index. With Surý's repository in place, users can easily upgrade to the latest PHP versions using standard apt-get commands and stay ahead of security issues without extensive maintenance efforts.

Multiple security updates have been released for various Linux distributions, including AlmaLinux, Debian GNU/Linux, Fedora Linux, Oracle Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Rocky Linux, Slackware Linux, and SUSE Linux. These updates address vulnerabilities in packages such as Node.js, Mozilla Thunderbird, Firefox, FreeRDP, Keylime, kernel, and others, with some updates rated as having Critical or Important security impacts. The distributions have released patches to fix issues including remote code execution, memory corruption, use-after-free bugs, path traversal, denial of service, buffer underflow vulnerabilities, and more.