Hacker News Reader

A power source such as a non-removable battery in many laptops and phones? Doesn't Intel ME run even when the system is powered down?

View on HN

Yes, so many/most phones and laptops would be compromised. But there are also plenty of computers in every form that aren't plugged into anything at all and completely invulnerable.

It would be devastating but nothing we couldn't rebuild from.

You mean like desktops? That are unplugged? How many of those do you think are sitting around? How old is the version of Windows on them do you think?

If your recovery strategy is "drive as fast as you can to the thrift shop" then I don't know how effective "rebuilding" would be. This is fucking terrifying.

Maybe, but the wifi isnt on. That couldnt be hidden.

If by "isn't on" you mean "turned off by the OS", that wouldn't do anything. Intel ME operates despite whatever the OS is doing. You'd have to physically disconnect the modem, put the device in a faraday cage, completely remove power source, etc.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com