Learn how to stop unwanted kernel modules from loading, with hands-on commands and persistent configuration. 27.11.2025 | reading time: 2 min Kernels load modules automatically, and sometimes that is exactly what breaks a machine; learn to stop that behavior by blacklisting modules so the system no longer loads troublesome drivers. When drivers misbehave A laptop that freezes when a specific USB device is plugged in or a server that binds a NIC to the wrong driver are examples where prevention is better than cure; blacklisting tells the module loader to refuse a module, avoiding runbook workarounds and repeated incidents. Example: disable usb-storage This is a practical, repeatable case: create a modprobe blacklist entry, refresh initramfs if needed, and remove the module now. The sequence below shows the commands and expected reactions: ``` echo 'blacklist usb_storage' | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-usbstorage.conf sudo update-initramfs -u # Debian/Ubuntu systems sudo modprobe -r usb_storage lsmod | grep usb_storage # no output indicates it is not loaded ``` After a reboot the kernel will not auto-load the usb_storage module. Tuning and persistence Blacklisting with the simple "blacklist modulename" entry stops automatic loading, but for stronger prevention use "install modulename /bin/false" to make attempts fail explicitly; remember to regenerate your initramfs on systems that include modules in the initrd, and test by removing and then reloading with `modprobe` to verify behavior. Companion utilities Useful commands to operate and diagnose module behavior are `modprobe` for manual loading and blocking, `lsmod` to list loaded modules, `rmmod` or `modprobe -r` to remove them, `depmod` to rebuild dependency maps, and tools like `update-initramfs` or `dracut` to ensure changes survive the boot process. Final thought Blacklisting is a powerful administrative tool that prevents repeat incidents when a module is the root cause, but it is not a security boundary and a conscious testing process is required; dive deeper into Linux internals and consider formal certification such as CompTIA Linux+ or LPIC-1, and use bitsandbytes.academy for intensive exam preparation. Join Bits & Bytes Academy First class LINUX exam preparation. boot-process security setup troubleshooting
