Intel to introduce processor with remote kill switch

I'm pretty sure it will work similar to xbox, soon as it will gain internet connectivity it will call home and send its serial number. The called machine will take the number and see if it match anything in the "locked" list than respond okay/not okay and get you locked instantly if it match something in the list... I'm sure it'll be encrypted if not it would be pretty darn easy to unlock all you have to do is to MITM attack using ARP Poisoning or just bridge the machine and your router so you set yourself in the middle this make every bits of data go through your machine from there you can manipulate it.

Using netsed one could set a rule to change the remote machine's answer to a positive response even if it sends you the lock code... Only chances are you'd get relocked pretty quick maybe if you leave it disconnected for awhile they will take you out the list like it did with sirius/xm and you might be good after...

Same results could be achieved by coding a ettercap filter.

Thats all speculatively speaking and in theory... I haven't made enough research on it to know how it work so above is all hypotesis...

reply to post by aivlas


Oh no.....

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.

But that would mean including a 3g radio in the package and then there is signal issues, antennabattery to keep the radio active when the system is powered down, and please don't anyone suggest BIOS battery

Originally posted by woogleuk
reply to post by _R4t_

 

if that was the case then it would be a matter of blocking the IP(s) used to send the signal

It would but when you'll know what IP to block its already going to be too late, and they aren't dumb enough to use one single IP. They will likely use a couple hundreds/thousands proxies... Its a "catch me if you can" scenario... If it can be locked via a network it can also be unlocked someway through the network by finding whats the "magic packet" only once its unlocked you can't reconnect it to the internet cuz you'll get relocked pretty fast...

Now can you imagine how many people will be screwed on ebay by locked laptops or machines that we're unlocked but will get locked soon as they get connected to the net... Intel shot themselves in the foot with that one... Its pretty much the best xmas present they could give to AMD...

reply to post by woogleuk


Found that link but it looks like another reporter getting ahead of themselves

While precise details of the improved security features are currently under wraps, Intel's David Allen confirmed that they're set to include the ability to remotely disable Sandy Bridge-based systems from a remote administration console.

www.bit-tech.net...
www.itbusiness.ca...


3G killswitch is one of the new things they are introducing in this chip
isc.sans.edu...

Finally a good source
view.samurajdata.se...

or
download.intel.com...
If you want the pdf