Windows 8 Secure Boot Compliant Systems Will Complicate Dual-Boot with Linux

In a sly move, perhaps to destroy Linux once and for all, Microsoft’s new Windows 8 will have a secured boot process tied to the BIOS itself. So, if a vendor creates a machine that complies with Windows Secure boot, it will not be able (without hacking the BIOS) to dual boot Windows and Linux.

The key is the new UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) secure boot, with includes a registered operating system signed by a trusted Certificate Authority. This has some upsides: for instance, Windows 8’s fast booting is due in part to this, and malware won’t be able to hijack your OS. But, M$ being M$, they consider Linux as malware, in effect, so you are doomed. Well, OK, an exaggeration, but you see what I mean.

Linux could incorporate UEFI Secure Boot, but there are roadblocks to doing it. Not the least of which is the requirement that the signed OS certs must be proprietary. But, the Linux developers will probably figure something out… so, I am not too worried. However, if you have a “home-grown” distro, you may really be shut out. Also, M$ has promised to support older BIOS systems as well, for backward compatibility.