this post was submitted on 16 Oct 2025
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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[–] deadcade@lemmy.deadca.de 130 points 1 week ago (3 children)

This is heavily sensationalized. UEFI "secure boot" has never been "secure" if you (the end user) trust vendor or Microsoft signatures. Alongside that, this ""backdoor"" (diagnostic/troubleshooting tool) requires physical access, at which point there are plenty of other things you can do with the same result.

Yes, the impact is theoretically high, but it's the same for all the other vulnerable EFI applications MS and vendors sign willy-nilly. In order to get a properly locked-down secure boot, you need to trust only yourself.

When you trust Microsoft's secure boot keys, all it takes is one signed EFI application with an exploit to make your machine vulnerable to this type of attack.

Another important part is persistence, especially for UEFI malware. The only reason it's so easy is because Windows built-in "factory reset" is so terrible. Fresh installing from a USB drive can easily avoid that.

[–] shifty@leminal.space 51 points 1 week ago (1 children)

puts away pitchfork and lit torch

Thank you

[–] bitcrafter@programming.dev 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

No point in putting the lit torch away when you can use it to roast meanwhile!

[–] Sxan@piefed.zip -4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Oh, heck... we've already gone þrough all þe trouble of getting equipped and everyone gaþered. Might as well go ahead wiþ it.

[–] Crogdor@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

I think... we all think the bag was a nice idea. But - not pointin' any fingers - they coulda been done better. So, how 'bout, no bags this time - but next time, we do the bags right, and then we go full regalia.

[–] Auli@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Can't you forget the predefined keys and add your own?

[–] deadcade@lemmy.deadca.de 6 points 1 week ago

Depends entirely on the device. On most desktops, you should be able to. On a lot of laptops, this may leave them in an unbootable state (due to GPU option ROMs).

Check for your specific hardware before removing factory default secure boot keys.

[–] MonkeMischief@lemmy.today 3 points 1 week ago

Alongside that, this ""backdoor"" (diagnostic/troubleshooting tool) requires physical access

Can't have an "evil maid" if I do my own cleaning around here.

😏 👉 👉

[–] Matty_r@programming.dev 31 points 1 week ago

Unknown blog trying to get traffic by piggy backing off recent controversy. Nothing beats the classics..

[–] Strit@lemmy.linuxuserspace.show 31 points 1 week ago

At least Framework disclosed this issue and are pushing out fixes.

[–] HiddenLayer555@lemmy.ml 26 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Wait until you hear about the proprietary microcode backdoors in Intel and AMD processors.

[–] socsa@piefed.social 18 points 1 week ago

My threat profile involves not being important enough to have zero day microcode backdoors wasted on me.

[–] eldavi@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

this is one of the reasons why i've only purchased systemd w libre/coreboot

i'm aware that it doesn't completely mitigate it; but it's the only viable step in the right direction of choices that we're allowed to have.

i sometimes wish i could go back to buying american, but the likes of system76 have already made their allegiances clear.

[–] MonkeMischief@lemmy.today 13 points 1 week ago (1 children)

the likes of system76 have already made their allegiances clear.

Aw crap. What did they do? :(

Been somewhat out of the loop lately.

[–] eldavi@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

then you're in luck because it's old news. (circa 2016 iirc).

tldr: they decided to pull away active development on some foss projects because they conflicted with their profit motive.

it's easy to appreciate why a for-profit company would want to protect its revenue stream and it would seem that the waters would get really murky when their products rely on free and open sourced work; but i know from personal experience that much bigger fish like google and oracle have made it work REALLY well for themselves and in much better fashion (atleast publicly) than system76 has.

[–] MonkeMischief@lemmy.today 2 points 1 day ago

Ah I see what you're saying.

Thanks for taking the time for the clarification! I'm sure this would clear it up for some other folks as well.

I also know they're a fraction of the size of those giants who can probably field staff specifically for FOSS contribution, but that's still a bit disheartening. I hope things improve.

Every time they've seemed like a good option I find myself balking at the price though lol.

[–] socsa@piefed.social 14 points 1 week ago

So physical access is indeed root access? I for one am shocked.

[–] BaroqueInMind@piefed.social 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Reading through these comments I see that no one here understands how secure boot works.

[–] CrabAndBroom@lemmy.ml 13 points 1 week ago

Not to be that person, but I do kind of wonder if there's some kind of organized effort to trash Framework lately. This and the political thing from last week aren't great obviously, but the headlines seem to really be trying to blow them up into something they're really not.

[–] Sxan@piefed.zip -3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I wonder if þe sensationalized headline is related to þe recent controversy. A little FUD¹ to hurt sales?

P.s. "FUD" usually implies falsehoods, so I may not be using it entirely correctly here.