Linux Secure Boot Faces Key Expiration Crisis

A Microsoft key used for signing the Linux Secure Boot shim bootloader is set to expire in September, potentially breaking booting on numerous systems. While a replacement key has been available since 2023, many systems lack the update, possibly requiring firmware updates from hardware vendors. This adds extra work for Linux distributions and users. Solutions involve firmware updates via LVFS and fwupd, but older firmwares might have compatibility issues, potentially requiring Secure Boot to be disabled. Vendor updates may also present problems, such as lost platform keys. Ultimately, this highlights the challenges Linux faces relying on a Windows-centric hardware ecosystem.