5 ms·
Properly isolated accessory non-free hardware is a good thing, and for a user whose threat model requires libre hardware, the security model of the PinePhone or
by simfree 5y ago
Properly isolated accessory non-free hardware is a good thing, and for a user whose threat model requires libre hardware, the security model of the PinePhone or Librem 5 where the LTE modem is isolated with a kill switch to interact via USB (rather than connected via PCIe, which would have direct memory access) is the right choice.
Is a Thinkpad T400 with a Core2Duo and SSD the right choice in 2022? What about a Pinebook Pro? Friends and acquaintances I know are using these computers as their primary devices today.
- cjbprime 5y agoAgree with you, but a quick clarification: PCIe IOMMUs exist now, a PCIe device doesn't get DMA access to main memory.
- marcan_42 5y agoFYI, that ThinkPad T400 that the FSF certified has multiple microcontrollers running proprietary updatable blobs on the LPC bus with full access to DMA to all of system memory. I am literally more insulated from blobs with an Apple M1, which runs a dozen blobs none of which can take over my OS (thanks to pervasive IOMMU use), than with hardware that the FSF claims "respects my freedom".