What is Secure Boot?

Cyberattacks are getting more advanced, with hackers targeting a server's firmware even before it starts up. In this post, we'll cover Secure Boot, how it works, and how Trenton’s solutions protect firmware from unauthorized access.

What is Secure Boot?

Secure Boot is a feature defined by the UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) specification. It helps make sure that only trusted software and firmware run on a computer. Here’s how it works:

1. Trust Establishment: Secure Boot sets up a trust system between the UEFI BIOS (which is the low-level software that starts up the computer) and other software it loads, like the operating system or device drivers.

2. Allowed Software: Once Secure Boot is set up, it will only allow software and firmware that has been signed with trusted keys to run. Software with unapproved or blacklisted keys will be blocked. This helps prevent attacks or unauthorized updates before the operating system even starts.

How Secure Boot Uses Digital Signatures?

Digital signatures help verify the authenticity of software. Here’s a basic rundown:

1. Key Pair: There’s a pair of keys – a private key that’s kept secret and a public key that can be shared. The public key is used to check if the software was signed with the private key.

2. One-Way Function: The public key can’t be used to figure out the private key, so it’s safe to share the public key without exposing the private key.

3. Signing: Only the private key can sign software, while the public key is used to verify that signature.

How Secure Boot Works

Secure Boot uses a set of keys and databases to manage which software is trusted:

1. Platform Key (PK): This key establishes trust between the hardware and firmware. It controls access to other keys and databases.

2. Key Exchange Key (KEK): This key helps manage the list of trusted software and can modify the whitelist (allowed software) and blacklist (blocked software) databases.

3. Whitelist Database (DB): This database contains public keys for software that is allowed to run. If a piece of software is signed with a key in this list, it can execute.

4. Blacklist Database (DBX): This list contains public keys for software known to be malicious or unauthorized. If software is signed with a key on this list, it’s blocked.

Secure Boot at Trenton Systems

Trenton Systems incorporates Secure Boot in its rugged computers and components. Their systems come with a secure BIOS and the latest cybersecurity features, including Secure Boot, with default keys that work with major operating systems like Windows and Linux.

Users can also add their own keys to authorize or block custom software and updates. Customizations, including changing default keys and updating the Secure Boot settings, are available upon request.

Conclsuion

Secure Boot is like a security checkpoint for your computer’s startup process. It ensures that only trusted software is allowed to run when your system boots up. By using a system of approved and blacklisted keys, Secure Boot protects your system from malicious software and unauthorized updates right from the start.

In essence, it’s a way to make sure that your computer only loads software that you and your system trust, preventing potential attacks or security breaches before your operating system even begins to load.

FAQ

What is Secure Boot?

Secure Boot is a security feature that ensures only trusted software and firmware are allowed to run on your computer during the startup process. It verifies the integrity of the software and firmware to prevent unauthorized or malicious code from executing before the operating system loads.

How does Secure Boot work?

Secure Boot uses a system of digital keys to verify software and firmware. It checks that the software has been signed with approved keys before allowing it to run. If the software’s digital signature doesn’t match the approved keys, Secure Boot will block it from executing.

Why is Secure Boot important? 

Secure Boot is crucial for protecting your computer from various threats, including malware and unauthorized updates. By ensuring that only verified software is executed during startup, it helps to prevent attacks that could compromise your system’s security.

What are digital signatures in Secure Boot?

Digital signatures are used to verify the authenticity of software. They involve a pair of keys: a private key, which is kept secret by the software provider, and a public key, which is used to verify the software’s signature. Secure Boot uses these signatures to ensure that the software is legitimate.