Oxide and Friends Open Source Firmware
Oct 31, 2022
Christian Walker and Philipp Deppenwiese, both from Nine Elements and contributors to the Open Source Firmware Foundation, dive into the evolving landscape of open-source firmware. They share insights on the importance of transparency and the challenges posed by traditional practices, including binary blobs. The pair reflect on the rise of the Open Source Firmware Conference as a hub for community collaboration and discuss key security concerns in the tech industry. They emphasize the need for a dedicated foundation to nurture this growing movement.
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Unique OSFC Conference Community
- OSFC conferences gather a unique mix of large companies and independent enthusiasts passionate about firmware.
- The 2019 conference had 300 to 350 attendees, many from Google and Facebook, creating a niche community feel.
Complex SOC Firmware Needs Transparency
- The increasing complexity of SoCs causes more opaque firmware components.
- Opening firmware like Intel ME or AMD PSP is key to improving platform enablement and security.
Security Incidents Accelerate Openness
- Security scare stories serve as wake-up calls for firmware transparency.
- Awareness from events like Bloomberg Supermicro and Spectre/Meltdown accelerates open firmware interest.
