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> Putting encrypted microcode into consumer CPUs was always a dumb idea. Serious question: which consumer CPUs have unencrypted microcode? AMD processors have
by jcranmer 4y ago
> Putting encrypted microcode into consumer CPUs was always a dumb idea.
Serious question: which consumer CPUs have unencrypted microcode? AMD processors have had theirs encrypted for a decade, Intel for even longer, and nothing I've seen indicates that any ARM models have unencrypted microcode updates floating about.
- Enginerrrd 4y agoBasically none these days. But therein lies the problem. The actors can't be trusted. In part because the state-actors in which they reside can't be trusted and they can (and do) issue gag-orders to shove backdoors down their throat. But the problem with backdoors has always been that other people will likely eventually figure out how to use them too. If you can't audit the microcode, you have a massive gaping security problem.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- formerly_proven 4y agoWhich ARM cores have loadable microcode to begin with?
- cogburnd02 4y agoIf it can't be done on a MC68000 (or thousands in parallel), then does it really need to be done?
- dkasak 4y agoIt may be a serious question, but I don't see how it relates to the part you quoted. It still is a dumb idea, regardless of the answer to your question.
- Klonoar 4y agoDo the Raptor systems (POWER-based) fit here?
- classichasclass 4y agoPOWER9 CPUs are in retail hardware and are being used today (including several in this house), so I'd say they qualify.