Remote ‘Kill Switch’ Added to Intel’s Newest Processor.

[Tatty_Two]

Where have you read this will be an optional feature which can be turned off or on?

In essence the Intel utility to do this is called "Anti theft utility V3.0" and forms part of VPro and therefore exists already, it would appear that some Mobile Sandies will get the hardware built in to offer greater levels of Security management, it is actually software controlled from the looks of things, having just read up on some of it, the link below kind of states that the software controls the "state"..... any of us can only guess that if you don't have the software installed.... you don't get the facility, or if you have it installed the link suggests you can disable.... I dunno.

http://communities.intel.com/docs/DOC-4463

here is a bit more info on the subject for anyone interested and is actually quite useful..........

http://download.intel.com/it/pdf/Evaluating_Intel_Anti-Theft_Technology.pdf

 

[francis511]

Why do they actually NEED it ?

 

[cdawall]

Source?

Amd doesn't do that they just show up at your house in a dark suv. For some reason they have a folder with my name on it

 

[Tatty_Two]

Why do they actually NEED it ?

Companies "Need it" and the technology has been researched and developed at the customers request, each year in the USA alone, lost and stolen laptops cost Billons of dollars, not just in the value of the lost hardware, but the costly measures companies have to put into place to negate the effects of information getting into competitiors or wikileaks hands!

From what I have read today, this whole thing is software driven, forget about the Mobile CPU, the end user HAS to buy VPro and install it and register the level of support they want from Intel, if as part of VPro (which has many security/management apps embedded), they select this feature then AT THE LICENSEE's REQUEST ( a phone call to the Intel centre) Intel can then send a "Kill Pill" to disable the product.

Well thats the way I have read it, I might be wrong, I certainly am no expert!

 

[hat]

This makes no sense to me. Disabling a CPU will not protect the contents of the hard drive. It's very easy for any 12 year old to take a hard drive out of a machine and put it an another and huff your files that way.

So, the only benefit I see here is protecting your laptop from computer illiterate computer thieves.

 

[Tatty_Two]

This makes no sense to me. Disabling a CPU will not protect the contents of the hard drive. It's very easy for any 12 year old to take a hard drive out of a machine and put it an another and huff your files that way.

So, the only benefit I see here is protecting your laptop from computer illiterate computer thieves.

Lol, thats only one feature, I concentrated on that feature because its the topic of the thread, the "embedded apps" i refered to includes "on disk encryption"

 

[hat]

So if someone's laptop gets stolen, they can call Intel and have tham magically encrypt their hard drive for them?

As far as I know, this is about Intel remotely shutting down processors, not handling everyone's encryption too. What all is there to this?

 

[Thatguy]

Source?

Hello John.

what sharp ears you have.

 

[JF-AMD]

I don't start many threads but I try to make sure that people aren't posting things that aren't true.

 

[Thatguy]

I don't start many threads but I try to make sure that people aren't posting things that aren't true.

I understand that, its amazing you saw this however. I enjoyed your posts on Anandtech. I like your style.

 

[cadaveca]

So when will you(is in AMD) start? This is totally neccesary, right?




On a more serious note...at least SKYNET won't be able to take over the world now. Killswitch FTMFW.

 

[Yukikaze]

This makes no sense to me. Disabling a CPU will not protect the contents of the hard drive. It's very easy for any 12 year old to take a hard drive out of a machine and put it an another and huff your files that way.

So, the only benefit I see here is protecting your laptop from computer illiterate computer thieves.

The HDD is encrypted as an additional measure. The reason this makes sense is that a thief who steals a laptop and is unable to do anything with it because it is a paperweight and cannot be sold for any gain will not steal another. If a thief knows that stealing such a laptop leads to stealing a paperweight, he won't do it.

 

[JF-AMD]

I am not aware of any of this technology on our side. But I only work in server. To me, personally, this seems like an opportunity for a problem.

 

[hat]

The HDD is encrypted as an additional measure. The reason this makes sense is that a thief who steals a laptop and is unable to do anything with it because it is a paperweight and cannot be sold for any gain will not steal another. If a thief knows that stealing such a laptop leads to stealing a paperweight, he won't do it.

I didn't see anything in the article about Intel doing data encryption...

Even with a disabled cpu, there's lots of stuff in the laptop worth something... like... everything but the cpu

 

[Completely Bonkers]

There are "kill switches" in a lot of military hardware. There are "kill switches" in shareware and some commercial licensed software.

Why not have CPU's on lease? Pay up or turn off. Now I dont like that business model, but it is a legitimate one, and might actually be attractive to some businesses that currently have to purchase expensive hardware which sits on the balance sheet. NOW, you juts pay a rent, no financing necessary, no leasing companies with their fat margins, better tax management. Makes sense.

Alternatively, Mr Obama wants an "internet kill switch". Well, that is kind of hard. But if one of your American companies has a monopoly on CPUs then you can have a "world kill switch" with such a system.

It's currently being trialled as a kill switch. Would be much worse if the next get required a "heatbeat"

 

[hat]

Why not have CPU's on lease? Pay up or turn off. Now I dont like that business model, but it is a legitimate one, and might actually be attractive to some businesses that currently have to purchase expensive hardware which sits on the balance sheet. NOW, you juts pay a rent, no financing necessary, no leasing companies with their fat margins, better tax management. Makes sense.

I don't see that saving money. Everyone I know who's not an enthusiast has S478 era hardware. My high school, which I graduated from this year, had tons of Socket 462, Socket 478, and some older Socket 775 P4 systems. Imagine paying rent on those year after year... lots of wasted money.

Alternatively, Mr Obama wants an "internet kill switch". Well, that is kind of hard. But if one of your American companies has a monopoly on CPUs then you can have a "world kill switch" with such a system.

That's a whole nother can of worms...

 

[cadaveca]

I am not aware of any of this technology on our side. But I only work in server. To me, personally, this seems like an opportunity for a problem.

No doubt, but i tihnk it might be possible to pull off. Would definately add an interesting slant to industrial espionage, as well as the system security front.

We could almost consider a recent antivirus problem leading to no boots as a software killswitch...how negatively do you think that impacted the party in question? And would the effect the hardware world not be exponential?

It's like an ankle tracking bracelet with a taser built in. Both monitor your every move, and if ya go to the wrong places...ZAP!!!

Piracy could die.

 

[Mike0409]

I think you will see this mainly on business class laptop's and not for home PC's.

Also for Intel to nuke your processor you would have to give consent to let Intel monitor your hardware at some level. It would have to be marked and noted somewhere...


Navigating and pirating software? This would be monitored by your ISP and not by the process's of your CPU..for them to monitor this without the ISP's consent would be a major privacy invasion with the TOA that you have with your ISP.

For hackers to be able to gain access to Intel's records and start nuking processors? I havn't heard of OnStar getting hacked and having car's turn off randomly...

 

[cadaveca]

Navigating and pirating software? This would be monitored by your ISP and not by the process's of your CPU..for them to monitor this without the ISP's consent would be a major privacy invasion with the TOA that you have with your ISP.

Maybe, however, the way the legal system works here in Canada, any contract terms that conflict with law are null and void. The law supercedes any contract. This goes for all contracts.

And law can be changed easily. There are roadblocks to any success.

 

[Mike0409]

Maybe, however, the way the legal system works here in Canada, any contract terms that conflict with law are null and void. The law supercedes any contract. This goes for all contracts.

And law can be changed easily. There are roadblocks to any success.

You may be correct, but there are also loop holes in laws that could be used.

I still don't see this tech as a standard for these chips. I see it as a premium purchase, and focused on business class, for data protection. If I had a company that dealt with personal information of my customer's you would bet I would tie in this tech to all of the road warriors out there, as well as encryption in case of a laptop getting stolen. Replacing stolen hardware, that's nothing. But recovering sensitive and personal information and trying to insure that you weren't compromised in anyway...that's a nightmare.

 

[cadaveca]

Yeah, I agree on it's target market..I mentioned that earlier. I'd actually very much like to see it implemented at that level...for government and such. would give the tech guys at that level some more work, too, maybe leading to job creation. Someone has to fix things when it screws up

 

[Tatty_Two]

So if someone's laptop gets stolen, they can call Intel and have tham magically encrypt their hard drive for them?

As far as I know, this is about Intel remotely shutting down processors, not handling everyone's encryption too. What all is there to this?

Firstly, of course they cant call Intel, they will not have the key codes for VPro, the company who owns the laptop will have paid a lot of money for the software. The little bit of VPro software that deals with the CPU is exactly that, just a little bit of the package, so the company with the stolen laptop can ring Intel, quote their keycode number for THAT individual laptop and Intel can send the "kill pill".

Now apart from Vpro, there is an overarching System management system that VPro can form a part of so there are full disk encryption services amongst about another 75 apps to choose from, the subject of this thread is just one small part of it and does not stand alone. The company cares less about the hardware and more about the contents and sensativity of the info it is storing, thats where the greatest money loss is at. I am not saying I agree with it.... just trying to understand it.

 

[95Viper]

I am not aware of any of this technology on our side. But I only work in server. To me, personally, this seems like an opportunity for a problem.

While, not exactly implemented the same... It has the potential to accomplish the same results with the out-of-band tech implementation.

Quote from AMD's Web site: Manageability for Desktop and Notebook Clients

"Out-of band Management for Desktops and Notebooks"

"Management tools and technology are also available to perform “out-of-band” management tasks. In contrast to “in-band” tasks, “out-of-band” tasks are performed independently of the OS or the power state of the PC. A typical out-of-band task would be powering on a PC that is shut down and powered off."

Other info:

AMD Business PCs & Windows® 7
VISION Pro Technology from AMD: Commercial Desktop Platforms with DAS 1.0 for Virtualization, Manageability and Security
Manageability with AMD Business Solutions

Other:
DASH

Certain individuals & businesses want it and the manufacturers will provide it.
If the idea succeeds, IMO others (including AMD) will follow suite.

EDIT:
@Tatty> I do so like that avatar!

 

[JF-AMD]

To access those those things you need security and credentials. AMD cannot access your system via these channels.

 

[niko084]

I will sit back and wait for some hacker team to figure out how to do this.... Then I will laugh at all the peons.

Where there is an ability there will be a way around security.

And while I sorta understand this move, I cannot say in the least of any way possible that I support it.

PS: Onstar has been hacked in the past and if you spend a bit of time looking you can turn red lights green just like the police do with a little bit of work and electronics knowledge.