Free Software Foundation Thinks It Can Stop SecureBoot

The Free Software Foundation is now soliciting donations and signatures for a pledge in hopes that it can stop UEFI SecureBoot and other "restricted boot" systems from becoming too common.

There was a posting to the Free Software Foundation's web-site on Thursday that was an appeal to sign their pledge not to purchase or recommend any computer hardware that employs SecureBoot or any other restricted boot techniques. The pledge is titled "Stand up for your freedom to install free software" and so far have received over 40,000 signatures and the support of just 50 organizations.

Aside from asking for more signatures, they're also trying to get more individuals to donate at least $50 USD to the FSF in order to further their cause of stopping Secure Boot. They hope to stop Secure/Restricted Boot by building public support around their statement, fighting Microsoft's attempt to enforce Restricted Boot on ARM devices, working with manufacturers to ensure users can change the software running on their machine, working with computer vendors friendly towards GNU/Linux, and providing information about computers/components that are most compatible with free software. The Free Software Foundation also says they'll be releasing a new Secure Boot white-paper in January.

While it's a nice thought to get rid of SecureBoot, it's a very tough challenge going against Microsoft especially with their mandate for Windows 8 PC certification be that UEFI SecureBoot is utilized. If SecureBoot is to be unseated, it's more likely it will be as a result of government (namely the EU) intervention rather than the FSF.

For more information on this latest FSF effort, see their new posting.