Submission + - Intel hardware spying, even with power unplugged!
blucat2 writes: "Check out this one. Intel are now shipping on-board tranceivers on "every piece of silicon that comes out of their factory", a direct quote from the CEO. So now, they can access your PC, modify the hard disk, retrieve information, even when the thing isn't turned on!! They call it AMT, and you can't remove it. You can check it out on Intel's site, there's a few pages and a PDF. Here's a few cut and pastes, as I usually do when I get amazed at how offensive what a company does is.
blucat AT optusnet.com.au
http://www.intel.com/technology/platform-technolog y/intel-amt/index.htm
Discover: Intel AMT stores hardware and software information in non-volatile memory. With built-in manageability, Intel AMT allows IT to discover the assets, even while PCs are powered off. With Intel AMT, remote consoles do not rely on local software agents, helping to avoid accidental data loss.
Heal: The built-in manageability of Intel AMT provides out-of-band management capabilities to allow IT to remotely heal systems after OS failures. Alerting and event logging help IT detect problems quickly to reduce downtime.
Out-of-Band system access Allows remote management of platforms REGARDLESS OF SYSTEM POWER OR OS STATE!
And because Intel AMT is hardware and firmware-based, IT CANNOT BE REMOVED-EITHER ACCIDENTALLY OR INTENTIONALLY BY END USERS.
Non-volatile memory stores hardware and software information, so IT staff can discover assets even when end-user systems are powered off, using the OOB channel.
Intel AMT is a hardware- and firmware-based solution connected to the system's auxiliary power plane, providing IT administrators with "any platform state" access."
blucat AT optusnet.com.au
http://www.intel.com/technology/platform-technolo
Discover: Intel AMT stores hardware and software information in non-volatile memory. With built-in manageability, Intel AMT allows IT to discover the assets, even while PCs are powered off. With Intel AMT, remote consoles do not rely on local software agents, helping to avoid accidental data loss.
Heal: The built-in manageability of Intel AMT provides out-of-band management capabilities to allow IT to remotely heal systems after OS failures. Alerting and event logging help IT detect problems quickly to reduce downtime.
Out-of-Band system access Allows remote management of platforms REGARDLESS OF SYSTEM POWER OR OS STATE!
And because Intel AMT is hardware and firmware-based, IT CANNOT BE REMOVED-EITHER ACCIDENTALLY OR INTENTIONALLY BY END USERS.
Non-volatile memory stores hardware and software information, so IT staff can discover assets even when end-user systems are powered off, using the OOB channel.
Intel AMT is a hardware- and firmware-based solution connected to the system's auxiliary power plane, providing IT administrators with "any platform state" access."
