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Intel's Sandy Bridge Processor Has a Kill Switch

Posted by timothy on from the no-mr-chip-I-expect-you-to-die dept.

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."

20 of 399 comments (clear)

  1. A global remote kill switch in our computers by Serious+Callers+Only · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What could possibly go wrong.

    1. Re:A global remote kill switch in our computers by greatica · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Somebody forgets about this feature and puts a processor in an airplane or some other type of mission-critical machine.

    2. Re:A global remote kill switch in our computers by gilesjuk · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I'm sure the virus writers are rubbing their hands with glee waiting to get their hands on one of these chips.

    3. Re:A global remote kill switch in our computers by ceeam · · Score: 3, Insightful

      > our computers

      As an AMD fanboy - say for yourself.

    4. Re:A global remote kill switch in our computers by morari · · Score: 5, Insightful

      So what? The computer will be unusable (unless the thief wants to foot for a new CPU and motherboard) but the hard drive will still be there, full of your data! A few screws later and the drive will be hooked up to another computer, with all your info ready for the picking!

      --
      "He who can destroy a thing, controls a thing." --Paul Atreides, Dune
    5. Re:A global remote kill switch in our computers by Pharmboy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Actually, Kill-switch based malware is much less valuable in reality than other types of hacks.

      Unless you are going after Iran or Wikileaks.

      --
      Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!
    6. Re:A global remote kill switch in our computers by whathappenedtomonday · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Or you're trying to access wikileaks.ch ...

      --
      I hope I didn't brain my damage.
    7. Re:A global remote kill switch in our computers by tqk · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This was possible for a long time with phones yet it wasn't phone tracking which for the most part killed phone theft but remote kill switches.

      Theft, shmeft! I want the thieves tracked down and caught. Killing the box just means you need to buy (from Intel?) another box. Great for Intel's sales, but no help to us!

      And what does killing the CPU do to the data on the drives in the box? Methinks nothing. If it's not encrypted, they've got your data. Who cares about the box (hint: only Intel, as they can supply a replacement). This is a really dumb "solution" on Intel's part.

      --
      "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
  2. something missing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    is there an on switch?

  3. It's not paranoia! by breakzoidbeg · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Knowing right out of the gate that some one else COULD have access to this kill feature is unnerving at best.

  4. I know what I'm getting for christmas... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    An AMD proccesor.

  5. As if...! by Burnhard · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Is it me or is this one of the dumbest ideas ever to come out of Intel?

  6. All your data are belonging to thief! by edfardos · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Killing the cpu just means they have to transfer the drive to a new laptop in order to steal all your information? That's one whole extra step! That's innovation. --edfardos

    1. Re:All your data are belonging to thief! by phozz+bare · · Score: 3, Insightful

      How many laptop thieves give a crap about the information in the machine? In 99% of the cases all they want is to sell it, as quickly as possible.

  7. Re:And without owner's consent? by Lord+Dreamshaper · · Score: 3, Insightful

    sure, unless they have a somewhat sketchy cease & desist from the RIAA/MPAA...or if they simply don't want to piss off the feds (wikileaks anyone?). I'm sure they'll apologize later if they were wrong...as long as you can afford the lawyers to prove you were wrong...

    --
    When all of your wishes have been granted, many of your dreams will be destroyed - Marilyn Manson
  8. May go back to AMD... by Guysdrinkingbeer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I was looking forward to this CPU. Now, I am really going to research this. This may flip me back to AMD. I didn't like when Intel did the tracking on the PIII and the sound of this makes me just as uncomfortable.

    --
    Great people don't need people to complete them, great people complete other people. -- Matthew Pawlikowski.
  9. Great for governments by russotto · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Want to shut down the opposition's operations? Just disable their computers.

    Do. Not. Want.

  10. Re:Remote Kill by Stumbles · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Lol yeah really. Then they can hold your machine for ransom, once paid they MIGHT turn it back on.

    --
    My karma is not a Chameleon.
  11. Would you buy a machine with this in ? by RichMan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This to me says it will push foreign governments to non-intel machines. Can't risk the US government getting control of something like this.
    Or any other power for that matter. No government or military would really want this on their systems. They might think they want it to "stop theft" but the consequences of someone else getting control are way to much.

  12. What? No conspiracy theories? by reemul · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wow. More than 30 comments already and no-one has brought up Microsoft killing the cpu if it thinks your copy of the OS is pirated. Must be a slow day. ;)

    --
    You're just jealous 'cuz the voices talk to *me*