Bug 425023

Summary: Report hardware anti-features
Product: [Applications] kinfocenter Reporter: Someone Concerned <lq1prs+2rm8s1mam7fmjxo0ka2>
Component: About this SystemAssignee: Plasma Bugs List <plasma-bugs-null>
Status: RESOLVED NOT A BUG    
Severity: wishlist CC: nate, sitter
Priority: NOR    
Version First Reported In: unspecified   
Target Milestone: ---   
Platform: unspecified   
OS: All   
Latest Commit: Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Someone Concerned 2020-08-05 05:20:37 UTC 
Please report hardware anti-features such as:

- Proprietary Drivers
- Proprietary Firmware
- Intel Management Engine
- AMD Platform Security Processor


Proprietary Drivers
===================

That's proprietary code (with potenial backdoors of course) often running at the highest level of privilege. Recommend open-source alternatives if available.


Proprietary Firmware
====================

Same as proprietary drivers, but potentially running with fewer privileges.


Intel Management Engine
=======================

Essentially a proprietary second OS (again with potenial backdoors of course) running beside the main OS on its own CPU, running even when the computer is turned off (as long as the motherboard is receiving power), with full access to RAM and the network.

More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Management_Engine and https://itsfoss.com/fact-intel-minix-case/


AMD Platform Security Processor
===============================

Similar to the Intel Management Engine.

More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_Platform_Security_Processor
Comment 1 Someone Concerned 2020-08-05 05:22:14 UTC 
Information can be sourced from we the people if needed, of course, see https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=424577#c3
Comment 2 Harald Sitter 2020-08-06 17:08:59 UTC 
If you get a project started to source the necessary information I suppose one could think about making a KCM for it. Getting that bootstrap'd isn't really something that fits into kinfocenter's development. Currently I can't seem to find a cross platform way to detect any of this easily, so without a way to do so I don't see kinfocenter being able to help here. It's purely a visualization app of existing data.