When a user replaces their traditional operating system and installs an open source alternative, they must recognize that the ties with proprietary software have not been completely broken. There are many hardware components that depend on closed drivers even under Linux environments, but there is also the computer's BIOS, whose code cannot be explored or audited. The Libreboot project aims to change that by offering a completely free and open source BIOS for an exclusive list of systems.
The Problem with Proprietary BIOS
The idea that you can no longer trust anyone is gaining more and more strength in the computing world. We still remember very well when the community caught Lenovo red-handed, installing malware on its computers to earn an extra buck. Unfortunately, the story of the famous Superfish did not end with the purge of a hard drive, but in many cases required a BIOS update to eliminate all its traces. A truth among computers is that we have no idea what's inside a BIOS. Manufacturers don't publish the code, nor do they have the slightest interest in doing so. Almost all audits done so far point in the same direction: They are insecure. The situation is even worse with UEFI, and that dread called "Secure Boot" that accompanies it on many systems.
Libreboot and Coreboot
Some years ago we discussed Coreboot, a project under which open source BIOSes are developed for different computers and motherboards. However, what brings us here today is Libreboot, based on the foundations of Coreboot. The most important difference is that its developers emphasize the definition of "free". From a technical point of view, BIOSes from Libreboot are open source, but on their official page they establish the need to identify Libreboot as a project that obeys the ethical parameters of free software. This is evident in the efforts to turn Libreboot into an official certified component of the GNU system. The so-called "philosophical compatibility" between GNU and Libreboot is complete, but there are still several details to resolve, and if you have some experience in that matter, you are welcome to participate.
Limited Hardware Compatibility
Needless to say, Libreboot is not something you can download and install in minutes. Its special development conditions make hardware compatibility quite limited. The general list speaks of barely a dozen systems, most of them Lenovo laptops several years old on the market. In summary: If you want an open source BIOS with some associated blob, Coreboot offers broader support, but if the idea is a completely free BIOS and you have a compatible computer, Libreboot is what you're looking for.
