There is a belief that Linux-based computers are inherently secure, and yeah, there is some truth to that. With that said, no operating system, kernel, or hardware is infallible. All computers have vulnerabilities and can ultimately be hacked.
A good example of this is the Linux Mint-powered MintBox 2. While the diminutive PC is not built by the Linux Mint team (it is merely a rebranded Intense PC), it is supported by them. Today, it is revealed that the computer is suffering from a dangerous vulnerability that can impact the machine’s BIOS. Luckily, a patch is available.
Fit-PC, the maker of the computer, explains the vulnerability by saying, “In case an affected model is exposed to malicious software running inside the operating system, the malicious software is able to read or write to Flash memory storing BIOS and Intel ME firmware and may corrupt or alter them.”
Yikes. Unfortunately, you cannot fix this issue from within Linux Mint. Instead, you must create a bootable flash drive that is designed to patch the system. The fix will patch the BIOS, preventing malicious software from altering it. Hilariously, the instructions list using Windows to fix it. It is quite possible that the owner may not have access to a Windows machine…
Submitted by: Arnfried Walbrecht