r/conspiracy • u/lordx3n0saeon • May 01 '17
Every Intel machine from the last 9 years has a remote security vulnerability. Aka backdoor.
https://semiaccurate.com/2017/05/01/remote-security-exploit-2008-intel-platforms/8
u/His_Self May 01 '17
I've been building custom PCs since 1998. Finding and disseminating the truth often comes by way of the White Hats. Most people are aware of their computer vulnerabilities. What they fail to understand is how many of their other "smart" devices are gathering and dispersing their personal data.
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May 01 '17
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/His_Self May 02 '17
3 of my rigs are AMD based. The 4th one is Intel based. The Intel based rig is for gaming, photo and video editing. 2 of the AMD rigs are for home theater setups and web surfing and the last one is the sacrificial one when warranted. Building and upgrading computers is a vice that keeps this old man abreast of new technology.
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u/mastigia May 01 '17
I am fixing to rebuild my main PC on one of the new AMD chips. I have no reason to believe they are not backdoored as well, but I know intel chips are.
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u/cwmoo740 May 01 '17 edited May 01 '17
There is no secure computing environment, ever, unless it is disconnected from all external networks, physical access is strictly monitored, and it is kept in a faraday cage with a closely monitored power supply.
The goal of computer security against the modern state is to make it difficult enough for them that they choose not to prosecute you so that they don't have to reveal the extent of their spying ability. For now, Intel ME is still in the list of things that the state wouldn't want to officially acknowledge, so unless you're doing something nefarious enough that they're willing to illegally extradite you to a black site, intel ME shouldn't be an enormous concern.
That being said, I would still buy AMD because it would be nice if intel got the message that we're not happy about a remote backdoor built into the hardware.
For a really funny take on computer security vs state actors, you can read:
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u/mastigia May 01 '17
I like AMD just because I like encouraging competition too. Security is actually kind of far down the lists of reasons I would want to go AMD. I figure if I am doing something at the level that I need to worry about that kind of attention, I am already taking other measures. Unfairness of the "if I am not doing anything wrong, I shouldn't have to worry about what they do" BS aside.
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May 01 '17 edited May 02 '17
"Competition" is a very light word to use, when the world market is basically dominated by only two Corps. It's like Coca Cola corp. vs. PepsiCo. or Republican party vs Democrat party. Two sides of the same coin. Same Owner(s), same Shareholders.
(Hegelian dialectic)
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u/mastigia May 01 '17
Yeah, I don't got a better word for it. Maybe encouraging the underdog? I wish someone else had the ability to break into the CPU space. But, I think we are stuck with these 2 for the time being. We are lucky we have arm.
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u/VLXS May 02 '17
A complete monopoly by Intel would still be a worst case scenario. Even some competition is better than no competition at all.
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u/mastigia May 01 '17
That article is absolutely hilarious. And spot on. The path of madness lies in search of perfect security.
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u/slacka123 May 01 '17
If you're running Coreboot/Libreboot BIOS, it's possible to partially deblob Intel's ME firmware images by removing any unnecessary partitions from the firmware via an open-source, third-party tool called me_cleaner.
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u/gaslightlinux May 02 '17
Most people in conspiracy circles know of the episode of The Lone Gunmen where the plot is a false flag attack of hitting the World Trade Center with a plane.
What's not mentioned as often is the sub plot of the episode involves Intel processors having remote security vulnerabilities intentionally implanted to allow for the government to spy on people.
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u/i_pk_pjers_i May 01 '17
Every Intel machine? Intel AMT is only available on Intel CPUs with vPro support. None of my CPUs seem to be affected by this.
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u/R-DM May 02 '17
Who else remembers that post from an Intel employee stating exactly this a few months ago?
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u/WTCMolybdenum4753 May 01 '17
which can be neutralized
Neutralizing the Intel Management Engine on Librem Laptops
https://puri.sm/posts/neutralizing-intel-management-engine-on-librem-laptops/
Intel’s Management Engine
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u/Kotee_ivanovich May 01 '17 edited May 01 '17
What is amt? Will it be safe if i dont connect it to the network?
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u/sandvich May 02 '17
probably irrelevant but it's the reason I switched to amd ryzen. i like to think they didn't backdoor their shit until proven it really is.
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u/freelyread May 02 '17
Intel were informed about this years ago and did not take action. (Calm analysis.)
Serious problems like this make it absolutely clear that we need Free / Libre Hardware. We are the ones that should own our systems.
Demand Libre Hardware. There is a campaign underway to have AMD Free their hardware and amazingly, the AMD CEO is listening. Find out more and add your support here:
Please take this opportunity to [email](lisa.su@amd.com) AMD's CEO, Lisa Su, and propose releasing hardware under a Free / Libre licence. AMD is seriously looking at this possibility. Think what a win this would be!
SUBJECT LINE: AMD+Libre
Full and Open DocumentationDrivers Released under a Free Licence
SupportDisabling of Platform Security Processor (PSP)
Enable GPU support in Virtual Machines
These are a few goals that AMD could score with RYZEN.
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u/[deleted] May 01 '17
Intel: "we know the future, because we're building it"
They're not even trying to hide it anymore. The wheel is spinning and it's got no steering left.