[governance] Verisign to control what operating systems you can run on your computer

[Jeremy Malcolm]

On 07/06/2012, at 8:21 PM, Daniel Kalchev wrote:

> I believe this is a bit misleading...
> 
> It is not Verisign, but Microsoft, who are trying to lock computer hardware to their OS.

But the money goes to Verisign, and they are Verisign certificates (issued underneath Microsoft's root).  (Though as I have almost equal contempt for Verisign and Microsoft, I don't mind blaming either of them.)  The reason why it is Verisign rather than any other CA is just because that's the one that Microsoft requires you to use to participate in this programme.

> For the desktop, because of existing Windows versions that apparently do not support this "secure boot" technology, this restriction is optional. You will be able to switch it on or off in the BIOS.

But, of course, only technical users will do that.  It's just enough of a stumbling block to prevent ordinary computer users like your mum from trying any other operating system than Windows.

> None of this will impact Linux or other OS running on "PCs". And it is not really anything to involve Verisign with.

So I disagree with your conclusion.

-- 
Dr Jeremy Malcolm
Senior Policy Officer
Consumers International
Kuala Lumpur Office for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East
Lot 5-1 Wisma WIM, 7 Jalan Abang Haji Openg, TTDI, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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