I read somewhere on Reddit that people who use Linux should periodically, manually check for security updates to their computers’ BIOS from their motherboard manufacturers, because Linux apparently ends automatic updates once you leave Windows. I have no idea of where to look on the ASUS website for my Zenbook 14, or if that’s even the right place. Could anyone give any guidance on this matter? Is this a thing that we should indeed be doing semiannually or something?

And what else should I be doing on a schedule (even if annually), while I’m at it? Haha.

  • actionjbone@sh.itjust.works
    17·
    10 hours ago

    So, folks who responded are conflating BIOS with UEFI. It’s a common mistake - but they are very different things that serve the same purpose.

    BIOS is older technology. It usually wasn’t risky unless the board was somehow faulty, but there was always some risk because you were directly reflashing the CMOS.

    UEFI is the current technology. If your board is less than 10 years old, you almost definitely have UEFI and not BIOS. It’s stored in NOR flash memory on the motherboard.

    UEFI’s nature and design make it much simpler and safer to update. UEFI can be updated automatically within Linux; BIOS requires the board manufacturer’s utility to reprogram the CMOS.

    I’m simplifying some of this. But this should help explain the conflicting responses of what gets updated under Linux.