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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? (self.linux)

submitted 2 months ago by j4k3 to c/[email protected]

32 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] 27 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago

You need to correctly set it up tho. ie. remove all default keys because some were discovered ages ago anyway.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

They could open up the laptop to insert a small device that reads the usb header. Or just replace the guts of the laptop with something else. Or replace one of the usb leads in your bag with one with a tracker. Or sell a usb-c cable with a tracker for cheap in the gift shop.

There's a bunch of other ways to compromise your system and some might be easier than putting a backdoored bootloader on your device.

Also, if it's the TSA, they could almost certainly create a bootloader that was signed by Microsoft to replace any existing one.