The Linux Foundation has published a proposal that describes how computer manufacturers with the secure boot mechanism on a ‘fair’ and ‘open’ way in systems with a uefi can implement.
Just like various other organizations that open-source software to promote, the Linux Foundation is concerned about the possible restrictions that the secure boot mechanism to computer users would be able to impose, such as installing a different operating system. Windows 8 will have secure boot support on systems that are equipped with a bios replacement uefi.
In an attempt to oems to influence, the Linux Foundation, a directive issued, in which proposals are made, how a system with secure boot other operating systems can boot. According to the authors, is secure boot, although a useful method to make systems more secure, but it should be possible for users to have private keys to install so that other OS’and not be left out. The organization contends that Microsoft in its current plans for the secure boot mechanism of Windows 8 aims to be the only party so-called platform keys in uefi.
As well as the Free Software Foundation considers the Linux Foundation that computer a setup mode in uefi have to offer that the secure boot mechanism can be switched on by the stored keys to be reset. Another, more complex, solution is the establishment of a new trust model in the uefi specification that allows systems to other OS’s and can boot, from external media. This new model would, however, by the entire industry embraced it, raising the question as to whether the proposal is any chance.
The Linux Foundation is not the only organization with new proposals around the secure boot issue. So have two of the developers from Canonical and Red Hat in a report with the title “Secure boot impact on Linux” similar proposals have been drawn up. The Free Software Foundation is, meanwhile, a petition started in which computer manufacturers are asked to include in their uefi implementations, the user with the ability to provide secure boot off.