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possiblylinux127

How do I prevent Windows Update from breaking my dual boot BEFORE it happens? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/linuxquestions

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Now that we're a week in and most people have probably repaired their PCs from the shitty Windows Update breaking GRUB I have some question.

I have a dual boot as well and thought I was safe, as I installed my Linux Mint on an independent disk. My friend laughed and told me that won't protect me.

I logged into Windows some days ago as I had to write a document in MS Word for university and the windows update told me it was ready with a very threatening red dot in the tray. I expected it to take control over my PC and to reboot 10 times, do some typical Windows stuff, but nothing happened.

Now I have this update waiting and I am scared my Linux will break. I know there are fixes out there, but is there a way to prevent it BEFORE it happens? Can I somehow upgrade the vulnerable GRUB version?

Thanks a lot for your help my fellow penguin fans.

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[–] Dudewitbow 1 points 3 months ago

the idea of secure boot is that the pc only allows verified OS with the proper key to boot. its meant to prevent attacks from rootkits (pre OS level malware that gains control during the boot process). Not everyone has it enabled. some linux distros require generating a custom boot verification key for it to work with secure boot on, hence why some linux users dont have secure boot enabled at all.

getting a rootkit isnt necessarily an easy task to do, but the idea of having it on is only so you dont have to worry about it happening. so its objectively less security, but its for a problem that is on the scale of happening, much more rare than other forms of maleare.