Intel's Sandy Bridge processors have a remote kill switch

most thiefs steal computers to use/sell and not for hard drive data, if I can remotely turn my laptop into a brick that will be a pretty good deterrent, I think all laptops should have these CPUs and all thiefs should know about it!

this technology is a part of Intel v pro

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_vPro

Here's an article discussing the "Big Brother" implications of this technology:

http://www.tgdaily.com/hardware-opinion/39455-big-brother-potentially-exists-right-now-in-our-pcs-compliments-of-intels-vpr

Also note that Intel (an Intel IP) was caught editing the wikipedia vPro article, they removed the information in the privacy concerns section of the article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_vPro#Intel_vPro_Privacy_Concerns

I'd use the tinfoil in my hat to make a nice little Faraday cage for the CPU. Just sayin'.

Why not they build something like where as soon as the thief tries to unscrew anything on the notebook or turns it on the notebook just burns itself to ashes? Now that can be a total solution to your theft worries.

this is just so stupid. Well, another strategy to push the price up from Intel. :thumbs up:

So question,, Is it only the user who has this control? What about the government? Misuse of this by any agency say RIAA. you download an MP3 or what not so they kill the CPU. they have done worse off before. Also would this not be a perfect trick to shutdown the publics ability to share there voice?

On a standard metal PC case form a faraday cage protecting the chip from external radio signals.

Hmm, getting customers to willingly destroy your product so they can buy a replacement from you?

I think this idea originated in the marketing department.

This is for military and espionage use. Can you imagine turning off the opposing armies or a competitors computers? Who needs a nuke EMP when you can shut down a country with a 3G signal?

They already put this stuff in everything they sell to foreign countries. All those missiles and airplanes and everything else have this capability so they cannot be used against US forces.

I would rather have a homing signal sent out on receipt of the text message.

Stupidest idea I have ever heard of. Whats the gain of turning off a computer that has been stolen? This sounds like something the government would be in on.

If people are afraid of sensitive information ending up in the hands of the wrong person they simply need to encrypt that information before the computer is stolen. Then it will be worthless in the hands of anybody without a password to the encrypted information. Bitlocker which is built-in to Windows 7 Ultimate edition is more than adequate for this task. Or if you want a free option to encrypt all your sensitive information, TrueCrypt is a wonderful alternative.

The assinine ways people approach some problems are just so puzzling to me. They must have given this idea all of fifteen minutes of deep thought.

I'll have to research this more but if its true but I may have to pass on any Sandy Bridge processors when considering a CPU upgrade in the future.

I can't help but think that the government is somehow involved with this CPU. They are hell bent on controlling everything and everybody now days. First healthcare, next the internet, lastly everybodys personal computer.

It also notifies the authorities if your looking at porn on the internet in the UK.

AMD if your reading this we don't want this in your next generation of APUs.

While they're looking into disabling just the CPU, why not go all the way with a remotely triggered self-destruct code or even an auto-wipe code for the HDD ?

And then what? will them Stick Mircophones or Micro cameras to a Feakin PC Ship.!! Damm what a waste of money, that makes me think aboyt something hiding inside, some **** that send thme report abour your usage or any other thing.... Worried..

We all known your CPU won't stop a thief from getting your info from your Hard Drive.

I guess Intel figured a CPU shutdown would be pretty safe while using Trusted Computing (Intel TXT). If your data are sealed with the CPU info, a thief wouldn't be able to access it unless they use the same CPU (which would not be feasible if disabled). Spoofing CPU info is somewhat pretty hard.

--
Danny Fullerton
Mantor Organization

But that will bring us to another problem, what if the CPU fails due to hardware issues, such CPU hardware level data protection (if it can be made to work) may result in locking you out of your HDD for good (or atleast may make it lot harder).

@ Archean

Don't people use backup anymore though?. What happened to that "Cloud" thingy?, that didn't sound too bad for small companys and the like.

It is obvious though, the HDD is the place for stopping data theft. Something viable will come in the future you'de think.

Cloud is more like a 'pipe dream' for the likes of Google, I've talked to several small/medium size businesses and one large size organization (involved in well over two dozen industries) about it in last year or so, and frankly not one of them believe they can trust any one with their data.

Beside, just think for a moment, if you put everything in one basket, you make one very BIG target for the rest who want to get their dirty hands on it ....... I am sure there are enough smart people out their who can pull this off, causing a constant headache for everyone involved.

Yeah, that's not how it works. No script, no MAC addresses, no database at Intel.
Also, laptops aren't built that way. If you kill the chipset, then it will cost more to revive than to replace. These components are typically surface mount, meaning either expensive equipment or über skills to replace. A good laptop that is stolen is worth a couple hundred at most. Practically, the only generic components are RAM, HDD, optical drive, and some wifi cards.
Yeah, your data is unprotected, but that's your fault for not encrypting, lol.