Closed CPU's and Fabs Untrustworthy

[Shawn K. Quinn]

On Thu, 2016-06-16 at 01:22 -0400, grarpamp wrote:
> https://boingboing.net/2016/06/15/intel-x86-processors-ship-with.html
> Recent Intel x86 processors implement a secret, powerful control
> mechanism that runs on a separate chip that no one is allowed to audit
> or examine.
> 
> https://libreboot.org/faq/
> Links being mostly on the billions of gates we know exist,
> unfortunately not on the top secret ones we don't...

A computer inside a computer, running an OS the users can't change or
audit. What could possibly go wrong? And what derelict clown thought up
this idea?

The existence of this malware is bad enough if it can be disabled, or
changed to no longer be a threat. The fact that the CPU will not boot or
will not stay running if this "other" CPU is physically removed, makes
this a disaster. This makes the Pentium FDIV and F00F bugs look like the
missing yellow key bug in MAP31 of the TNT: Evilution episode of Final
Doom. (Which is to say, an annoyance but one which can be easily worked
around.)

Do AMD CPUs have these yet? How about other manufacturers (if there are
any left)? Is this something we have to worry about today on any new
computer designed for Intel CPUs, or is this just for "enterprise-level"
gear? How do I know if a computer has this *before* I buy it?

-- 
Shawn K. Quinn <skquinn at rushpost.com>