Microsoft security update wreaks havoc on Linux and Windows dual-boot systems – Windows 11

The update, which was intended to fix a two-year-old vulnerability in the open-source bootloader, GRUB, caused unexpected problems on many dual-boot computers.

According to reports from Ars TechnicaMany Linux users are facing “Security policy violation” and “A serious error has occurred” messages when booting up their system. The issues have been found in various Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, Zorin OS, and Puppy Linux.

Microsoft had stated that the update would not affect dual-boot systems, but the reality turned out to be different. The company has yet to officially comment on the issues it caused, leaving many users searching for solutions.

The security flaw that the update attempted to fix allowed hackers to bypass Secure Boot, a technology widely used in Windows and Linux distributions to protect systems from malware at boot time.

For Ubuntu users, there is a workaround that involves disabling Secure Boot at the BIOS level and then removing Microsoft’s SBAT policy via the terminal. However, this solution is not ideal as it leaves the system more vulnerable to attacks.

Secure Boot has been a key security feature of Windows for years, and it’s now a mandatory requirement for Windows 11. Despite its importance, researchers have identified several vulnerabilities in Secure Boot over time, with recent discoveries showing that the technology is completely ineffective on many Windows computers.

This incident highlights the challenges software companies face in trying to fix vulnerabilities without negatively impacting the functionality of systems. Additionally, it highlights the importance of testing updates on a wide range of system configurations before releasing them widely.