Shuttleworth Calls for Declarative Firmware
Ubuntu founder denounces insecurity in proprietary, close-source software blobs.
Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth has called for an end to the dominance of the ACPI power management and device configuration interface used for firmware configuration in many PCs. In a recent blog post, Shuttleworth points out that low-quality, closed source firmware as a major threat to system security.
"If you read the catalog of spy tools and digital weaponry provided to us by Edward Snowden, you'll see that firmware on your device is the NSA's best friend. Your biggest mistake might be to assume that the NSA is the only institution abusing this position of trust--in fact, it's reasonable to assume that all firmware is a cesspool of insecurity, courtesy of incompetence of the worst degree from manufacturers, and competence of the highest degree from a very wide range of such agencies."
Shuttleworth goes on to call the ACPI system a "trojan horse of monumental proportions," adding portentously, "I've been to Troy; there is not much left."
According to Shuttleworth, blobs of commercial, closed-source code in the firmware just opens the door for sophisticated intruders, whether they are government spies or conventional criminals. His solution:
Firmware should be open source, so the code can be checked and verified, and innovative new features should be submitted through an upstream, peer-reviewed process such as the Linux kernel development process.
Firmware should be declarative, meaning that it describes "hardware linkages and dependencies" and doesn't include executable code.
Mark Shuttleworth is artful enough to sense that the furor over the NSA spying scandal means the world might be especially receptive right now to a pitch about the benefits of free software. Beyond the public relations, however, is an interesting development for Shuttleworth's own beloved Ubuntu project. The Free Sofware Foundation still lists Ubuntu as a "nonfree GNU/Linux distribution," noting that "...the version of Linux, the kernel, included in Ubuntu contains firmware blobs."
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you've found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Fedora 39 Beta is Now Available for Testing
For fans and users of Fedora Linux, the first beta of release 39 is now available, which is a minor upgrade but does include GNOME 45.
-
Fedora Linux 40 to Drop X11 for KDE Plasma
When Fedora 40 arrives in 2024, there will be a few big changes coming, especially for the KDE Plasma option.
-
Real-Time Ubuntu Available in AWS Marketplace
Anyone looking for a Linux distribution for real-time processing could do a whole lot worse than Real-Time Ubuntu.
-
KSMBD Finally Reaches a Stable State
For those who've been looking forward to the first release of KSMBD, after two years it's no longer considered experimental.
-
Nitrux 3.0.0 Has Been Released
The latest version of Nitrux brings plenty of innovation and fresh apps to the table.
-
Linux From Scratch 12.0 Now Available
If you're looking to roll your own Linux distribution, the latest version of Linux From Scratch is now available with plenty of updates.
-
Linux Kernel 6.5 Has Been Released
The newest Linux kernel, version 6.5, now includes initial support for two very exciting features.
-
UbuntuDDE 23.04 Now Available
A new version of the UbuntuDDE remix has finally arrived with all the updates from the Deepin desktop and everything that comes with the Ubuntu 23.04 base.
-
Star Labs Reveals a New Surface-Like Linux Tablet
If you've ever wanted a tablet that rivals the MS Surface, you're in luck as Star Labs has created such a device.
-
SUSE Going Private (Again)
The company behind SUSE Linux Enterprise, Rancher, and NeuVector recently announced that Marcel LUX III SARL (Marcel), its majority shareholder, intends to delist it from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange by way of a merger.