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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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How do you secure your bootloader without secure boot or why doesn't it matter? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 month ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

18 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I've made the effort to secure mine and am aware of how the trusted protection module works with keys, Fedora's Anaconda system, the shim, etc. I've seen where some here have mentioned they do not care or enable secure boot. Out of open minded curiosity for questioning my biases, I would like to know if there is anything I've overlooked or never heard of. Are you hashing and reflashing with a CH341/Rπ/etc, or is there some other strategy like super serious network isolation?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (2 children)

The thing is... If someone has access to your system enough to replace your bootloader, they could probably just slip a USB keylogger between your keyboard and computer. Or set up a small hidden camera. Or plug all your devices into a raspberry pi to spoof the login screen.

It strikes me as odd that people assume that an attacker with a few hours physical access is going to bother going down the "change the bootloader" route when there are other, easier routes available.

Ironically, the only practical use case I can see for Secure Boot is when you have a dual boot setup where you don't trust one of the OSes. Which I'm betting wasn't Microsoft's intention at all.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 month ago

No point in putting locks on your house, because an attacker can just drive their car through your front door.

The attacks you mention have their own ways of being detected: usually eyeballs. But eyeballs can't help you against something hiding in your bootloader. So Secure Boot was made.

And I don't really follow your dual boot claim. If you don't trust one of the OSes, and you boot it up on your hw, you're already hosed. At that point it can backdoor your bootloader and compromise your other OS. Secure Boot prevents malicious OSes from being booted, it can't help you if you willingly boot a malicious OS.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Just because they can do X doesn't mean you shouldn't protect against Y.

Just as an example scenario, say border guards took my laptop out of my eyesight. A camera or USB keylogger won't do anything in that case. Hijacking my bootloader though potentially gives them access to my machine without me having any clue.

Secure Boot is useful and worth setting up. But everyone has to decide their own level of comfort when it comes to security.