Microsoft Secure Boot

What Does Microsoft Secure Boot Mean?

Microsoft Secure Boot is a Windows 8 feature that uses secure boot functionality to prevent the loading of malicious software (malware) and unauthorized operating systems (OS) during system startup. Microsoft Secure Boot is set up with encryption keys that are used to secure communication between the Windows 8 OS and computer firmware, which is embedded software that correlates with the hardware.

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Microsoft Secure Boot relies on a unified extensible firmware interface (UEFI).

Techopedia Explains Microsoft Secure Boot

Linux users have expressed concern regarding Microsoft Secure Boot’s effect on their ability to load Linux on Windows 8-certified computers. However, Linux founder Linus Torvalds believes these complaints are overblown. In a 2008 Wired Magazine interview, Torvalds commented that a bigger issue is whether or not Secure Boot will be hacked. OS makers and distributers, like Red Hat, have found a way to work around the issue by distributing their keys – for a fee – to firmware makers to accomodate operating systems. like Linux, replacing Microsoft’s cryptographic keys with their own, so that software can be signed through Linux.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…