Re: [fsfc-discuss] UEFI - 'Windows only'

[Russell McOrmond]

On 11-11-15 08:20 PM, David C Dawson wrote:
> Just a note about the FSF stance on UEFI with regard to the possibility
> of making computers 'Windows only'.
>
> Might that actually be 'Windows 8' only?

  It is unsigned operating systems, or where the UEFI loader doesn't 
have the matching public key to the signature.

  This is not really a Microsoft issue, except for the fact that they 
currently dominate the legacy desktop/laptop markets.  Some hardware 
manufacturers will be lazy, and not future-proof their hardware.

  We should be mandating that hardware vendors create secure mechanisms 
for hardware owners to load their own choice of public keys.

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  It is likely that a Microsoft key will be included on all hardware 
(due to current popularity of that vendor), and that Microsoft will make 
signed versions of Windows 7 available.   If you are thinking about XP 
or even Vista, it is highly unlikely that Microsoft will make a signed 
version available, just as it is unlikely they will make a signed 
version of IE6 available given they are lobbying hard to get rid of that 
software: http://www.ie6countdown.com/


All IMHO:  I don't represent the FSF.

--
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