FSF suggests getting rid of Intel Management Engine to improve security and privacy

by
Anonymous Coward
in security on (#1S1GX)
Ask most people what happens when they boot their PC and they will respond with a range of answers from I don't know to The BIOS starts the boot process etc. Very few people realize that modern PCs have a hidden subsystem that lurks behind the main OS with full access to the computer even when it is in sleep mode. This system is called the Intel Management Engine. Given that it can access any part of the OS, memory or storage and has a range of capabilities which includes communication via ethernet the FSF has nominated the Intel ME system should be ditched. Given that the owner of the hardware has no control over the ME and can't even see it, and that the ME is a viable attack vector for completely taking over a PC "It is a threat to freedom, security, and privacy that can't be ignored." The only question we have is: Can we get rid of it?
Reply 3 comments

Hack it (Score: 2, Interesting)

by Anonymous Coward on 2016-08-29 23:35 (#1S1R3)

Find it. Hack it. Publish the method. Intel will have to recall millions of CPUs or kill the subsystem.

Simple (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2016-09-19 23:10 (#1VADT)

> The only question we have is: Can we get rid of it?

How about you just buy CPUs without it? The obvious solutions (AMD, ARM) are there and even Intel themselves release chips without it.