Hispalinux complains, microsoft forces manufacturers to use uefi boot forcing OS lock on computers
24 replies, posted
[quote]Spanish Linux user group Hispalinux on Tuesday filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission against Microsoft over the use of the UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) Secure Boot feature in Windows 8 PCs.[/quote]
[url=http://www.cio.com.au/article/457353/spanish_linux_user_group_files_european_antitrust_complaint_against_microsoft/]Source[/url]
Getting a little too controlling there Microsoft.
This is happening with software and hardware companies all across the board. What the actual fuck, people?
The position that Microsoft finds itself in is how do you take steps to prevent things like rootkits from being so widespread while at the same time not ruffling the feathers of regulatory bodies like the EU. This really isn't too much different than having a locked boot loader on a phone (same in concept, but not as restrictive), except that desktop operating systems are far more prone to the likes of user obtained malware. For the average person, there certainly is nothing wrong with having a signed boot process. It only becomes a nuisance for the *nix users out there (myself included) but it still isn't hard by any means to work around. Just go into bios and turn on legacy boot....
Most of the major distros are already on board with the whole secure boot deal. Why is it suddenly big news when a small Linux company complains? At least the Linux foundation is working with Microsoft on this.
Considering that the majority of distros seem to not be having issues getting the keys.....
The problem here is that Microsoft is the one who decides if your OS is allowed on these PCs or not.
It should be an independent organisation that handles this stuff, not a big company that will do whatever it can to force the market to use its products.
People are so uninformed about this.
The certs are given by verisign, not MS.
[editline]27th March 2013[/editline]
It's a windows logo requirement to be able to turn off secure boot anyway.
[QUOTE=maurits150;40051391]The problem here is that Microsoft is the one who decides if your OS is allowed on these PCs or not.
It should be an independent organisation that handles this stuff, not a big company that will do whatever it can to force the market to use its products.[/QUOTE]
But it's uh verisign.... on top of that getting the key costs something like 100 USD. And it creates a much much security model overall.
Wow, you know you can turn secure-boot off in the bios right?
Isn't this only on RT devices anyway? It's been a long time since I read about it, but I'm pretty sure it is.
Buying a windows PC expecting to not use windows. MK.
[QUOTE=Map in a box;40051784]Buying a windows PC expecting to not use windows. MK.[/QUOTE]
You know, there aren't many prebuilt PC's without Windows.
Misinformation is the best
[QUOTE=wraithcat;40051364]Considering that the majority of distros seem to not be having issues getting the keys.....[/QUOTE]
But they shouldn't have to get them at all, that's the point
[QUOTE=sambooo;40051947]But they shouldn't have to get them at all, that's the point[/QUOTE]
They dont? You can disable the secure boot.
[QUOTE=Mike Tyson;40051966]They dont? You can disable the secure boot.[/QUOTE]
The thread title and article would indicate otherwise
[QUOTE=sambooo;40052090]The thread title and article would indicate otherwise[/QUOTE]
[quote=article]
"The Commission is monitoring the implementation of the Microsoft Windows 8 security requirements. The Commission is however currently not in possession of evidence suggesting that the Windows 8 security requirements would result in practices in violation of EU competition rules," Almunia wrote at the time.
"It appears" that manufacturers are required to give end users the option to disable secure boot, Almunia said[/Quote]
The article would indicate otherwise.
[QUOTE=sambooo;40052090]The thread title and article would indicate otherwise[/QUOTE]
Never listen to the titles, far too many people look at Smurfy and think "wow oh boy it would be hilarious to have a really wacky and misleading title :downs:"
Not necessarily applicable to this thread, but in general
honestly i fail to see how this is an issue
so you can either turn on legacy boot or your distro can pay 100 dollars for a key
[QUOTE=Mike Tyson;40051966]They dont? You can disable the secure boot.[/QUOTE]
Yes, you can disable the feature. And miss out on the advantages it does provide.
I should be able to self-sign any software that's to run on my electronics.
[QUOTE=Map in a box;40051784]Buying a windows PC expecting to not use windows. MK.[/QUOTE]
Just try and find a non-windows laptop.
dell's quit selling them save for maybe one outdated overpriced piece of shit.
[QUOTE=DrTaxi;40059791]Yes, you can disable the feature. And miss out on the advantages it does provide.
I should be able to self-sign any software that's to run on my electronics.[/QUOTE]
That would literally defeat the point if anybody could sign code to run in secure boot mode.
[QUOTE=DrTaxi;40059791]Yes, you can disable the feature. And miss out on the advantages it does provide.
I should be able to self-sign any software that's to run on my electronics.[/QUOTE]
You can, the issue is that computers only come with MSs certs by default (and default to requiring them).
The core of the issue is not that computers require secure boot, it's that the Linux distros can't get their signing keys into the default firmware via OEMs for whatever reason.
[QUOTE=Map in a box;40051784]Buying a windows PC expecting to not use windows. MK.[/QUOTE]
It's a PC running windows, not a PC that only runs windows.
Although I don't think the lawsuit is unfounded, and I think UEFI boot lock is BS on MS's part, the european commission will suck Microsoft dry for this. 8 billion fine incoming.
[QUOTE=barttool;40067201]Although I don't think the lawsuit is unfounded, and I think UEFI boot lock is BS on MS's part, the european commission will suck Microsoft dry for this. 8 billion fine incoming.[/QUOTE]
The commission apparently already did a prelim investigation and concluded that there is not issue.
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