What feature does Secure Boot provide in a UEFI system?

Secure Boot is a security feature in Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) systems designed to enhance the security of the boot process. It ensures that only trusted software, specifically signed and verified by the manufacturer, is allowed to execute during the startup of the operating system. When Secure Boot is enabled, the firmware checks the signature of each piece of boot software, including the operating system loader and any drivers. If the software does not have a valid signature from a trusted source, the system will prevent it from loading, thereby protecting against unauthorized or malicious code during the boot process.

This feature is particularly effective against rootkits and bootkits, which are types of malware designed to load before the operating system and obscure their presence from traditional antivirus programs. By ensuring that only trusted software runs on boot, Secure Boot helps maintain the integrity of the system from the very start, facilitating a more secure computing environment.

Other options include features that do not align with the primary function of Secure Boot. For instance, allowing unsigned drivers to boot contradicts the essence of what Secure Boot is designed for, as this capability would undermine its protective measures.