5 ms·

Our firmware is baked into your machine and we are watching you right now

37 points by SocksCanClose 10y ago

okket 10y ago
Microsoft and Samsung (Android) are on the "compatibility" list, Apple is not. Sounds about right.
- anicemugoftea 10y ago
  https://www.absolute.com/en/partners/oem/apple https://www.absolute.com/en/partners/oem/apple
  - shaggyfrog 10y ago
    The MTM client for iOS is not integrated at the system level like the Android client is.
  - okket 10y ago
    Apple is not on the compatibility list. I am pretty sure Apple is not a "partner" like the link URL suggests. The web page only says they deliver App Store calibre solutions. That is a different sport than firmware "solutions".
    - shaggyfrog 10y ago
      The MTM solution is not deployed via the App Store.
      - okket 10y ago
        The MTM solution is probably distributed via the "enterprise" Apple Configurator. https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/IDEs/Conceptual/AppDistributionGuide/DistributingEnterpriseProgramApps/DistributingEnterpriseProgramApps.html https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/IDEs/C...
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
godgod 10y ago
"Today over one billion devices have Persistence built into the firmware." Jesus. Why are surveillance technologies being built into every electronic device?
astazangasta 10y ago
I found this helpful reading: https://blog.coresecurity.com/2009/08/11/the-bios-embedded-anti-theft-persistant-agent-that-couldnt-response-handling-the-ostrich-defense/ https://blog.coresecurity.com/2009/08/11/the-bios-embedded-a...
sengork 10y ago
I've always wondered how much cheaper the devices would be without such hardware functionality being built in. Surely a good portion of the cost is offset to the consumer for stuff they'd arguably not buy otherwise.
dang 10y ago
Giving submissions provocative, outrageous titles may be great for getting attention, but it breaks both the rules of this site and its culture. We take submission privileges away from accounts that do this, so please don't do it.
DINKDINK 10y ago
>Remotely invoke security commands to limit damage and protect data during a security incident Gleefully awaiting the day when this is exploited by an attacker.
morsch 10y ago
Here's a 2014 analysis by Kaspersky of this rootkit: https://securelist.com/analysis/publications/58278/absolute-computrace-revisited/ https://securelist.com/analysis/publications/58278/absolute-... Here's Absolute Software's reply: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/02/17/kaspersky_computrace/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/02/17/kaspersky_computrace... The Kaspersky post focuses on the PC BIOS rootkit, these days they seem to have added "support" for smartphones and tablets, though it seems as far as Android is concerned, only Samsung is along for the ride.
tmpanon1234act 10y ago
Is this legal? Serious question.

37 points by SocksCanClose 10y ago

okket 10y ago

Microsoft and Samsung (Android) are on the "compatibility" list, Apple is not. Sounds about right.

anicemugoftea 10y ago
https://www.absolute.com/en/partners/oem/apple https://www.absolute.com/en/partners/oem/apple
- shaggyfrog 10y ago
  The MTM client for iOS is not integrated at the system level like the Android client is.
- okket 10y ago
  Apple is not on the compatibility list. I am pretty sure Apple is not a "partner" like the link URL suggests. The web page only says they deliver App Store calibre solutions. That is a different sport than firmware "solutions".
  - shaggyfrog 10y ago
    The MTM solution is not deployed via the App Store.
    - okket 10y ago
      The MTM solution is probably distributed via the "enterprise" Apple Configurator. https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/IDEs/Conceptual/AppDistributionGuide/DistributingEnterpriseProgramApps/DistributingEnterpriseProgramApps.html https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/IDEs/C...
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]

godgod 10y ago

"Today over one billion devices have Persistence built into the firmware." Jesus. Why are surveillance technologies being built into every electronic device?

astazangasta 10y ago

I found this helpful reading: https://blog.coresecurity.com/2009/08/11/the-bios-embedded-anti-theft-persistant-agent-that-couldnt-response-handling-the-ostrich-defense/ https://blog.coresecurity.com/2009/08/11/the-bios-embedded-a...

sengork 10y ago

I've always wondered how much cheaper the devices would be without such hardware functionality being built in. Surely a good portion of the cost is offset to the consumer for stuff they'd arguably not buy otherwise.

dang 10y ago

Giving submissions provocative, outrageous titles may be great for getting attention, but it breaks both the rules of this site and its culture. We take submission privileges away from accounts that do this, so please don't do it.

DINKDINK 10y ago

>Remotely invoke security commands to limit damage and protect data during a security incident Gleefully awaiting the day when this is exploited by an attacker.

morsch 10y ago

Here's a 2014 analysis by Kaspersky of this rootkit: https://securelist.com/analysis/publications/58278/absolute-computrace-revisited/ https://securelist.com/analysis/publications/58278/absolute-... Here's Absolute Software's reply: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/02/17/kaspersky_computrace/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/02/17/kaspersky_computrace... The Kaspersky post focuses on the PC BIOS rootkit, these days they seem to have added "support" for smartphones and tablets, though it seems as far as Android is concerned, only Samsung is along for the ride.

tmpanon1234act 10y ago

Is this legal? Serious question.