[Bug 2110358] Re: GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER=false should be the default — automatic OS detection is broken by design

Launchpad Bug Tracker 2110358 at bugs.launchpad.net
Mon May 12 06:48:37 UTC 2025


Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

** Changed in: grub2 (Ubuntu)
       Status: New => Confirmed

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2110358

Title:
  GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER=false should be the default — automatic OS
  detection is broken by design

Status in grub2 package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  Dear GRUB/Ubuntu maintainers,

  This is a request (and a serious complaint) regarding the decision to
  disable os-prober by default starting with GRUB 2.06.

  This change:
  - Breaks automatic detection of other operating systems (e.g., Windows, other Linux distros)
  - Confuses users who dual-boot
  - Offers no warning during installation
  - Forces unnecessary manual configuration just to restore old, expected behavior

  The security justification is unconvincing:
  - Home users do not benefit from this "protection"
  - Any malicious bootloader would already require root-level compromise, making this irrelevant
  - System administrators are perfectly capable of disabling os-prober if needed

  Ubuntu used to stand for **humanity** — simple, user-friendly behavior
  with sane defaults. This change is the opposite.

  If this trend continues, more users will abandon GRUB (and perhaps
  even Ubuntu) for alternatives like rEFInd, which respect usability.

  > Good security is not disabling features. The best security is not
  installing the OS — and even better, not turning the computer on at
  all.

  Please reconsider this anti-user decision.

  Thank you.

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