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How Microsoft Can Lock Linux Off Windows 8 PCs
Julie188 writes "Windows 8 PCs will use the next-generation booting specification known as Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). In fact, Windows 8 logo devices will be required to use the secure boot portion of the new spec. Secure UEFI is intended to thwart rootkit infections by using PKI authentication before allowing executables or drivers to be loaded onto the device. Problem is, unless the device manufacturer gives a key to the device owner, it can also be used to keep the PC's owner from wiping out the current OS and installing another option, such as Linux."
You seriously think Microsoft is stupid enough to try it again? It's been 15 years. Let it go.
I think that case happens really rarely. It's much greater good that Microsoft fixes the security problems regarding boot rootkits. Saying anything else is just hating Microsoft for nothing. And in the next boot rootkit article you can again yell at Microsoft about why they don't secure their systems. Jeez.
What about those people who buy Windows now, because they don't know any better, but then learn about Linux, and want to install it on their then old computer several years from now?
I'm sure all four of them will work something out.
Stop complaining. Vote with your feet, and take your business elsewhere.
No, this is Microsoft taking the required steps to protect against boot rootkits doing damage in the wild right now. It's nothing else, but it has been spinned as such. It's like conspiracy theorists who find some conspiracy in almost anything they hate. The difference just being that this isn't the big bad government and their secret UFO stuff, it's Microsoft.
Look, Microsoft is doing a far more good by killing of the boot-time rootkits. I'm sure the few people who want to dual boot can just buy devices that support it.