14 DAY TRIAL // System76, the computer reseller specialized in the sale of Linux-based notebook, desktop, and server computers, shared details on new installer work for the next release of Pop!_OS Linux.
It would appear that System76 is collaborating with elementary's Daniel Foré on a new installer, which will offer full disk encryption support, for the next major release of their Ubuntu-Based Pop!_OS Linux distribution, which is coming this spring based on Canonical's Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver) operating system.
"The work with elementary was focused on user experience around installation, drive partitioning, dual booting, and full disk encryption," wrote one of System76's engineers in the project's latest weekly report. "Full disk encryption is seen as an important part of security and privacy and should be a default option."
System76 wants to deliver Linux PCs encrypted by default
System76 is known as privacy- and security-focused OEM, and their goal for the future is to deliver Linux PCs that are encrypted by default. They worked around any challenges they've encountered with the implementation of full disk encryption into the installer, and managed to create a better experience for installing Pop!_OS Linux.
The work on the new installer is lead by elementary's Daniel Foré for the user experience for newcomers who would install Pop!_OS Linux on their personal computer, as well as on the front-end implementation, while System76's engineers are concentrating their efforts on the backend of the installer.
Previously, users who wanted to encrypt their System76 PCs would have to re-install the operating system with disk encryption. Another idea was to sell pre-encrypted computers, which would require a unique key for every user, something that cannot be guaranteed. So offering full disk encryption during first time setup through the installer is the way to go.