Windows 8 PCs contain a new technology called Secure Boot that only boots devices that have been verified by Microsoft.
Removing computer viruses ranges between painfully frustrating and impossible. Twelve months ago we launched the first ever consumer-ready USB device for removing viruses from infected PCs. Today, we launched a free upgrade that makes the FixMeStick the first virus removal device to support Windows 8 PCs.
What makes support for Windows 8 unique?
PC manufacturers must include a technology called Secure Boot on PCs that ship with Windows 8. Secure Boot uses a public-key infrastructure to verify the integrity of the operating system and prevent unauthorized programs booting on the device.
Co-founder Corey Velan explains, “One consequence of Secure Boot is independent, external devices, rescue disks, Live CDs, and Live USBs, will no longer work on PCs that ship with Windows 8 unless they’re upgraded to include the necessary signed components or unless the PC’s system settings are modified by the user. FixMeStick is the first device to achieve compatibility with Windows 8 PCs right out of the box.”
Why are bootable removable media important to Internet users?
Since 2001 each new release of Windows includes new security capabilities, but computer virus infections remain a mainstream and growing problem. The practice of cleaning an infected device from an independent, external, known clean device is recommended by government cyber security departments (United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team, Canada’s Cyber Incident Response Centre, Australian Government’s cybersecurity website) and computer security leaders around the world.
And here’s the press release.