Hi,
I'm considering to buy netbook which uses CoreBoot or AMI for UEFI from open source hardware vendor 1.1GHz quad-core Intel® Pentium® N5030 Burst up to 3.1GHz, with 4MB Cache. The vendor says that this CPU works without co-processor Intel Management Engine (nothing to neutralize, because for this particular CPU it is not present). To be honest I do not belive him that Intel produced such device. It is too beautiful to be true. Personally I think this device is too cheap to do neutralization job for them - they prefer to focus on more expensive computers.
Is it technically possible to start such processor without Intel Management Engine or another microcontroller? I heard that the only possible solution is neutralization (me_cleaner), however some companies might have better ideas to achive this. From the business point of view it makes sense to release such CPU because this is redundant stuff which potentially might be dangerous and also has too many permission to access IO without user permissions: however I think that Intel is forced to do it.
I can of course do a detection job after purchasing, but later returning the new computer or losing a warranty is pointless. Especially when shipping to another country.
But maybe the vendor is saying true and this is simple and secure processor? What do you think?
Personally I think it is not true and this CPU also required Intel ME to be started and goes with all the risk related with this microcontroller.
I can easily detect if computer contains ME when I have a device on my desk. But I do not want the device which I will be forced to return back and lose time on unsecure solutions.
Best regards,
M
I'm considering to buy netbook which uses CoreBoot or AMI for UEFI from open source hardware vendor 1.1GHz quad-core Intel® Pentium® N5030 Burst up to 3.1GHz, with 4MB Cache. The vendor says that this CPU works without co-processor Intel Management Engine (nothing to neutralize, because for this particular CPU it is not present). To be honest I do not belive him that Intel produced such device. It is too beautiful to be true. Personally I think this device is too cheap to do neutralization job for them - they prefer to focus on more expensive computers.
Is it technically possible to start such processor without Intel Management Engine or another microcontroller? I heard that the only possible solution is neutralization (me_cleaner), however some companies might have better ideas to achive this. From the business point of view it makes sense to release such CPU because this is redundant stuff which potentially might be dangerous and also has too many permission to access IO without user permissions: however I think that Intel is forced to do it.
I can of course do a detection job after purchasing, but later returning the new computer or losing a warranty is pointless. Especially when shipping to another country.
But maybe the vendor is saying true and this is simple and secure processor? What do you think?
Personally I think it is not true and this CPU also required Intel ME to be started and goes with all the risk related with this microcontroller.
I can easily detect if computer contains ME when I have a device on my desk. But I do not want the device which I will be forced to return back and lose time on unsecure solutions.
Best regards,
M
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