Intel's Sandy Bridge Processor Has a Kill Switch

An anonymous reader writes "Intel's new Sandy Bridge processors have a new feature that the chip giant is calling Anti-Theft 3.0. The processor can be disabled even if the computer has no Internet connection or isn't even turned on, over a 3G network. With Intel anti-theft technology built into Sandy Bridge, David Allen, director of distribution sales at Intel North America, said that users have the option to set up their processor so that if their computer is lost or stolen, it can be shut down remotely."

Comments

Tracking? Remote data access?

[LWolenczak]

Anyone else getting the vibe that since this thing will have a 3g connection on the backend, that it can be misused by others(governments) to track and remotely control/access your device. Geeeeeeeeee. This does not sound like a good idea... Well unless your the TSA.

Re:Tracking? Remote data access?

[HungryHobo]

pretty much every phone has similar systems.
phones can be turned on remotely, have components turned on and even place a call at the behest of whoever has the right keys.

unless you physically take out the battery your phone could be transmitting everything you say already.
http://news.cnet.com/2100-1029_3-6140191.html

of course it will be misused eventually but such tech isn't new, it's been around for years.

Re:Tracking? Remote data access?

[dabadab]

Please stop repeating this stupid myth - I mean, you could have at least read the article you have linked. While it was clearly written by technically uneducated journalist, you should have realized that the article discusses two, entirely different techniques:
1. The roving bug thing: in this case the cell phone's electronics is not used at all (with the probable exception of the battery): a conventional bug is simply hidden in the phone's housing.
2. The remotely activated microphone: it requires some application that runs in the background unnoticed (and, of course, it functions only if the phone is switched on), so it requires a smartphone or perhaps some wicked CMDA feature.

Re:I know what I'm getting for christmas...

[the eric conspiracy]

All computers are obsolete.

HD != CPU

[Twinbee]

What a pity all the important information is stored on the HD, not the CPU.

Well, the article sucks...

[msauve]

since it doesn't explain how this works, or what's it's really all about.

It doesn't permanently disable the processor, you can revive it if you know the password. To do a kill over 3G, you send an encrypted SMS, and the laptop obviously needs 3G capability and the OS needs to be running.

I think airplane autopilots are still on 386 2005

[Joe The Dragon]

I think airplane autopilots are still on 386 or at least they where in 2005.

Re:something missing

[Anonymous Coward]

Windows password is not readable (only resettable)

http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/

Re:I think airplane autopilots are still on 386 20

[lsdi]

A version of 386ex is used by Honeywell and Garmin in many products. They do have a kill switch as required by DO-254 standart. A dead processor is better than a crazy one.

Re:A global remote kill switch in our computers

[jgrahn]

The good news is that the story is either missing some important information or just plain wrong. It seems REALLY unlikely Intel would build a complete 3G radio and antenna into the CPU just for that.

It's plain wrong. Someone commented over at TFA:

Read the Intel White Paper at the above link: The chip can accept an encrypted SMS message IF the computer is equipped with a 3G card. The radio receiver is not in the chip itself, only the ability to accept and act on the encrypted SMS message of an external 3G card receives the message.