Intel Core vPro processors contain a “secret” 3G chip that allows remote disabling and backdoor access to any computer even when it is turned off.
Although the technology has actually been around for a while, the attendant privacy concerns are only just being aired. The “secret” 3G chip that Intel added to its processors in 2011 caused little consternation until the NSA spying issue exploded earlier this year as a result of Edward Snowden’s revelations.
In a promotional video for the technology, Intel brags that the chips actually offer enhanced security because they don’t require computers to be “powered on” and allow problems to be fixed remotely. The promo also highlights the ability for an administrator to shut down PCs remotely “even if the PC is not connected to the network,” as well as the ability to bypass hard drive encryption.
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Scary, but I'm not sure how effective this is without a 3G radio inside. I haven't seen that this is the case.
ReplyDeleteIn the interest of disclosure, most modern computers support Wake on Lan, meaning that you can ping a connected device and it turns on. That would be another way somebody could hack your computer, but it requires access to your network first.
Unplug when not in use
ReplyDelete