I believe it is just signed by Microsoft and not written by them. I could be wrong though.

Yes, but still, we shouldn't be supporting it.

We should be fighting it.

Hi,
Why???

So you like the fact that Microsoft controls the keys to your hardware???

I have nothing against UEFI. In fact, I prefer the flexibility of it over the old way of doing things. The problem is with "secure boot".

We should be fighting "secure boot" because it is thinly veiled fascism.

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Because the still incomplete gains of free thought and free knowledge, including that aspect which we call free software, are far too precious to simply willy-nilly surrender the keys of the kingdom back to the original gatekeeper!

I for one will not even consider it!

I agree.

You asked in an earlier post IIRC, "How have we come to this?".

"We" have not come to this - this was handed to us by the same malevolent corporate interests that some of us have fought so hard to escape for the past 30+ years!

We must recognize it for what it is quickly or we won't be able to have this conversation in the near future!

Hi,
Microsoft does not control my present hardware in any way. 'Secure Boot' protocol(subset) is a implementation of the 'UEFI' protocol.

Do not buy any hardware that you feel does not meet your needs or requirements. You are not required to purchase a piece of hardware with Win/8 or for that fact any hardware that goes against your belief. Research before you buy. I do agree that 'UEFI' is necessary for future hardware needs since 'BIOS' has been hacked or patched to service the newer hardware for far too long. It is about time something like 'UEFI' is implemented. As to Win/8 logo hardware 'secure boot', you should be able to change/disable 'secure boot' then choose legacy BIOS and do a install without it.

This vehement attitude against Microsoft is old and childish. Microsoft answers to investors and must turn a profit. I agree Microsoft has made some poor venture choices and actions against other companies. Apple has locked the OS, Jobs was a dirty player yet he is put up on a pedestal. People forget the problems between Jobs and Gates over the user interface; mouse to be exact.

No one forces anyone to buy a 'Secure Boot' machine!

Hi,
Fine with me! Your choice. Microsoft happens to be a successful corporation.

No one is asking anyone to surrender anything. You are relating open source to a capitalistic venture. Free enterprise to me is just as important as your;Microsoft, IBM and loads of other big companies do support 'UEFI. Microsoft happens to implement 'Secure Boot' and everyone goes as you say 'willy-nilly'. To me that's really smart for Microsoft wanting to 'Secure boot' hardware to protect the whole system, not just part. Will I buy a Win/8 logo hardware? Probably. Will I run Win/8? No, I prefer to work at all levels of my OS. Will I be able to run in that fashion? Yes, I will be sure to select hardware that will allow me too before I make any purchase.

Yes. Should be able to.

For someone from the US, you certainly seem to be complacent in losing your freedom.
It's not against Microsoft alone. It's against anyone and anything that supports "secure boot".
If we don't fight it now, we may not have a choice in the near future.

With Secure Boot, system compromises will occur when holes are found in signed binaries.
Before Secure Boot, system compromises occurred when holes were found in unsigned binaries.

I'm not yet convinced that the security situation has improved. It's great for marketing, though.

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Given that Microsoft require the hardware vendors to implement "secure boot" in order to be Win8 certified, I think you will struggle to find hardware that operates in the manner you want.

Hi,

Whenever you wish to certify Win/8 the means to disable secure boot must be allowed for the certification process.

I am not giving up any freedoms nor complacent by choosing to allow free enterprise and markets to work. Where there are needs there will be suppliers for the populace.

'Anti-whatever' is getting old to me and to bias the situation with FUD just creates more biased FUD. Get the facts: Secure boot or UEFI Home

Market will decide whether to support 'UEFI' protocol with subset 'Secure Boot'. As to the set: 'Secure boot' protocol from Microsoft that too will be decided by the market. Not by people who shout about conspiracies! You are free to make a choice or not!

I enjoyed this thread more when it was about Slackware and UEFI in practice rather than another political debate.

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Hi,
I really think 'UEFI' is long over due. Either rewrite BIOS or use something along the lines of 'UEFI' to provide the means to secure the system and provide the means to implement new hardware designs.

I totally agree with the latter since from day one someone has always found a work around to get into a system. Everything is dependent on marketing.

There's not much more to discuss about it. ELILO solves the problem quickly and easily, and was recently added to Slackware-current.

The thread had nowhere else to go...