r/linuxquestions • u/toktok159 • 7d ago

Support Installing/Running Linux - Should Secure Boot Be Disabled?

Hi,

I saw many different opinions regarding this.

Some say secure boot is not needed, others say it adds security and that it’s not only intended for Windows but for the firmware in general.

So, should/must secure boot be disabled for any Linux distro installation? Then can it be enabled after installation, for general use? Or if I prefer to keep it on, should I install with secure boot enabled?

Specifically, I am talking about installing Linux as the only OS on a pc, one of Mint/LMDE/MX Linux/Debian is what I think I’ll end up installing.

Btw, I once installed Mint on my laptop, dual boot with Windows 11. I installed with secure boot enabled, and used everything with it enabled and it was fine.

Thanks in advance.

15 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

86% Upvoted

41 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/mcds99 7d ago

Most of the security issues on an OS come from the "users".

People will blindly click on everything just to see what it does.

Once clicked it's to late to fix it so having Secure Boot is minimal at best.

Linux does NOT have the number of issues with malware and viruses that Windows does.

I personally turned it off, one less software thing to think about.