Re: [Trisquel-users] (Why we need Free Hardware) Boing boing on Intel ME

[dguthrie]

If it was in the hands the users, then it would be a really interesting and  
useful system. It is basically an embedded computer. We could probably run a  
small GNU/Linux system instead, or something entirely different like a true  
random number generator. Or, just to be on the safe side, disable it  
entirely. Personally I would rather disable it entirely and just let the  
computer boot in the most transparent way possible.
Also of great concern is hard drive firmware as this can be modified in the  
same way without anyone knowing. That could be used to store keyloggers, and  
a similarly-damaging rootkit.
The saddest thing is that it is ordinary people who are getting caught up in  
the cyberwar. By extension, one wonders if the cyberwar is indeed against  
ordinary people.