Analysis on Secure Boot / Restricted Boot

[Matthias Kirschner]

I just published an analysis on "Secure Boot":
https://fsfe.org/campaigns/generalpurposecomputing/secure-boot-analysis.en.html 

  FSFE's goal is to ensure that the owners of IT devices are always in
  full and sole control of them. This fundamental principle is recently
  being challenged.

  With a function called "Secure Boot", which will be deployed in
  computers starting 2012, manufacturers of IT hardware and software
  components are striving to get into a position where they permanently
  control the IT devices they produce. Hence such devices will be
  "secure" from the manufacturer's perspective, but not necessarily from
  the owner's point of view: The owner can be treated as an adversary.
  By preventing uses of the device which the manufacturer does not
  intend, they can control and limit what a general purpose IT machine
  (e.g. a PC, laptop, netbook) may be used for. In case of IT devices
  with internet access, they can alter these usage restrictions at any
  time without even informing the device owner. As a result, IT
  manufacturers at their will can take away common rights owners of
  products usually receive.

  [...]

Best Regards,
Matthias

-- 
Matthias Kirschner - FSFE - Fellowship Coordinator, German Coordinator
FSFE, Linienstr. 141, 10115 Berlin, t +49-30-27595290 +49-1577-1780003 
Free Software is important to you? Join today! (fsfe.org/join)
Weblog (blogs.fsfe.org/mk) - Contact (fsfe.org/about/kirschner)