Linux issues

Microsoft has acknowledged that the August 2024 Windows security updates are causing booting issues for Linux users on dual-boot systems with Secure Boot due to a Secure Boot Advanced Targeting (SBAT) update. Affected devices may fail to boot into Linux, displaying the error message: 'Verifying shim SBAT data failed: Security Policy Violation.' This issue arises because the update enforces SBAT settings to block older, vulnerable boot managers. Although Microsoft intended for the SBAT update not to apply to dual-boot devices, some customized configurations were not detected, leading to unintended application. Reports indicate that users of various Linux distributions, including Ubuntu and Linux Mint, have experienced boot failures after the updates. Common solutions have not worked for many, but disabling Secure Boot, reinstalling Linux, and then re-enabling Secure Boot has been the most reliable fix. Microsoft has provided a workaround for users who have not yet installed the updates, allowing them to opt-out of the problematic updates using a registry key. The company is working with Linux partners to further investigate the issue.