Re: SSSCA: We're in trouble now

eddantes
2002-03-02T03:00:44Z

Neale Banks wrote:

[snip]

> All too true. However, given the quality of BIOS code we have seen
> over the years, the thought of your average BIOS programmer
> implementing cryptographic techniques does provide some amusement
> ;-)

PnP crypto? I'd love to see it. :)
That could actually be used somehow as some sort of pseudo-random
generator, given the legendary oh-so-predictable behaviour of most
BIOSes, even in normal circumstances... :D

> Any chance of any manafacturers open-sourcing their BIOS?

Uhmm... Odds: 1 in <buffer overflow>
Considering that they seem to see BIOSes as the easiest way to hide
hardware design mistakes, they probably wont.

OTOH, why not sticking Linux straight into BIOS flash chips?
Have a look here (sorry if you already knew):
http://www.linuxbios.org/
http://freebios.sourceforge.net/

Or just implement an OpenFirmware BIOS (that's cool! :)?
http://www.freiburg.linux.de/openbios/

> Regards, Neale.

All hope is not lost! ;)

Have fun.
/Dantes