From e24e10742c0f4f7f9a701392e70de292681c2154 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Tommy Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2024 11:36:16 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] Update post Signed-off-by: Tommy --- .../knowledge/Laptop Hardware Security/index.md | 12 ++++++++---- 1 file changed, 8 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-) diff --git a/content/posts/knowledge/Laptop Hardware Security/index.md b/content/posts/knowledge/Laptop Hardware Security/index.md index 670b83c..61b04ea 100644 --- a/content/posts/knowledge/Laptop Hardware Security/index.md +++ b/content/posts/knowledge/Laptop Hardware Security/index.md @@ -143,16 +143,20 @@ The problem with this design is that everything hinges on the boot block doing i Purism sells their laptops with PureBoot, a fork of Heads. It works in pretty much the same way, with a few extra features. -Here is a quick sample of Purism's marketing material: - They claim that: - It can protect against firmware tampering -- PureBoot is somehow better than other laptops which have real protection -- They disable the ME (setting the HAP field to 1), then wiping most of it with `me_cleaner` +- PureBoot is somehow better than other laptops +- They [disable the ME (setting the HAP field to 1), then wiping most of it with `me_cleaner`]() - They ship the CPU unfused - They are not vulnerable to UEFI firmware vulnerabilities which lead to Boot Guard bypasses - They have developed a special "blob jail" for their Wifi card +This is a far cry from reality, however: +- It cannot protect against firmware tampering as discussed in the Heads(/#heads) section +- Other laptops can protect against firmware tampering with Boot Guard +- They only set the HAP field now, but you have to find that out through a [forum post](https://forums.puri.sm/t/librem-14s-me-disabled-but-not-neutralized/12238) +- The "blob jail" is not special. It is an imitation of how the `linux-firmware` package works, and its sole existence is only because they are refusing to ship `linux-firmware` through the distribution because of ideology. The blobs inside of the "blob jail" are not any more isolated than the blobs provided by `linux-firmware`. +- Because of how much they have crippled hardware security, [Librem laptops are at HSI level 0](https://www.fwupd.org/lvfs/hsireports/device?host_vendor=Purism&host_family=Librem+14&host_product=Librem+14) ### RYF and the Illusion of Freedom