Windows and Linux users: The deadline to update Secure Boot keys is near
Summary
Windows and Linux users need to update their Secure Boot cryptographic keys before June 24 because three Microsoft-signed certificates will expire. Secure Boot is a security feature that checks software and firmware during system startup to block harmful malware called bootkits, which can infect a computer before the operating system starts.Key Facts
- Secure Boot uses digital certificates to verify that all firmware and software loaded during startup come from trusted sources.
- Three Microsoft-signed certificates that Secure Boot depends on will expire starting June 24, requiring an update.
- Bootkits are a form of malware that infect a system’s startup process, making them hard to detect and remove.
- Bootkits can survive reinstallations of the operating system, continuing to infect the computer.
- The first bootkits appeared in the 1980s, targeting early computers like the Apple II.
- Real-world UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) bootkit attacks have been found since 2018, including malware linked to Russian hacking groups.
- Microsoft created Secure Boot with hardware makers to stop bootkits by confirming software authenticity during startup.
- Users must update their Secure Boot keys by the deadline to keep their systems protected against these firmware-based attacks.
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