Developer devicemodder has shared their success in installing Linux Mint on a Panasonic Toughpad FZ-A2 tablet, which had been locked with Factory Reset Protection (FRP) and SecureBoot.
To bypass the security measures, they used a CH341A-based programmer to dump the device’s BIOS, which was then uploaded to ChatGGP to disable SecureBoot.
The modified BIOS file was then flashed back to the device, which allowed the Linux Mint installer to be booted from a flash drive, with some bugs and issues to be worked through.
This achievement demonstrates that AI is capable of patching binary BIOS code, however, there are concerns over the lack of oversight and trust with ChatGPT.
The situation raises questions about vibing AI-style coding and potential abuses of this technology.
It is important to consider the risks and benefits of using AI for unconventional tasks such as this, which may require new terminology to describe the process and potential issues.
Furthermore, the 1984 “Reflections on Trusting Trust” journal by Ken Thompson highlighted the complexity of trust in computer systems and the potential for hidden vulnerabilities.
