Stand up for your freedom to install free software

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Learn more about Secure Boot vs Restricted Boot, read our recommendations for free operating system distributions considering Secure Boot (PDF), and check out the winning entry of our webcomic contest.

Microsoft has announced that if computer makers wish to distribute machines with the Windows 8 compatibility logo, they will have to implement a measure called "Secure Boot." However, it is currently up for grabs whether this technology will live up to its name, or will instead earn the name Restricted Boot.

When done correctly, "Secure Boot" is designed to protect against malware by preventing computers from loading unauthorized binary programs when booting. In practice, this means that computers implementing it won't boot unauthorized operating systems -- including initially authorized systems that have been modified without being re-approved.

This could be a feature deserving of the name, as long as the user is able to authorize the programs she wants to use, so she can run free software written and modified by herself or people she trusts. However, we are concerned that Microsoft and hardware manufacturers will implement these boot restrictions in a way that will prevent users from booting anything other than Windows. In this case, we are better off calling the technology Restricted Boot, since such a requirement would be a disastrous restriction on computer users and not a security feature at all.

Please add your name to the following statement, to show computer manufacturers, governments, and Microsoft that you care about this freedom and will work to protect it.

We, the undersigned, urge all computer makers implementing UEFI's so-called "Secure Boot" to do it in a way that allows free software operating systems to be installed. To respect user freedom and truly protect user security, manufacturers must either allow computer owners to disable the boot restrictions, or provide a sure-fire way for them to install and run a free software operating system of their choice. We commit that we will neither purchase nor recommend computers that strip users of this critical freedom, and we will actively urge people in our communities to avoid such jailed systems.

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After you submit this form, you'll receive an email from us that asks you to confirm your signature before we add it to the statement. Please note that signing does not put you on the general FSF mailing list; we will only follow up with you only on this particular issue.

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This is a public statement and your name will be made public after you click the link in the verification email. We will not publish or share your email address with any party outside the FSF. See our privacy policy for more information.

You can see a list of all verified signers.

Support this campaign and the rest of the FSF's work by joining as a member or making a donation today.

Organization and corporate signatures

Below is a list of projects, organizations, and corporations that have signed onto the above statement. If you are interested in adding your organization or corporation as a signer to this statement, and you have the appropriate authority and permission to do so, please follow our corporate and organizational signer instructions — and we thank you for your patience, as adding signatures may take several days to complete. The complete list of individual verified signers is on a separate page.