4 ms·
I don't think you can determine much, without looking into the actual device somehow, and being also knowledgeable to make sense of what you see. Even with tru
by npteljes 4y ago
I don't think you can determine much, without looking into the actual device somehow, and being also knowledgeable to make sense of what you see.
Even with trusted brands, a malicious actor can attack the vendor. For example, one could order devices, tamper with them, and then send them back via returns. The vendor likely tests it a bit, and then repackages it and sells it as refurbished, or maybe even as a new one.
The fun thing is that the same is true with software. Looking at a source code is hard enough, even for experienced programmers, and then how do you verify a piece of software that you don't even have the source code to? And if you have the code, how do you verify that the software is made out of that code?
People basically just operate on trust, you can't verify much of the stuff. Just try to stick to entities with reputation, and hope for the best.
- xen2xen1 4y agoGo pick a random one from the store?
- zabzonk 4y agowell, on this basis, you can't trust your actual pc, laptop or phone either, never mind a hub. if you don't want to spend your entire life living in a faraday cage, there must be some level of trust.
- PenguinCoder 4y agoRichard Stallman was right.
- zabzonk 4y agoyou have to trust him, as the author of emacs and gcc, if you use them. admittedly, they are foss software, but have you (or anyone) ever trawled thru either for loopholes? i know i haven't.
- NoZebra120vClip 4y agorms seemed as every bit the fanatic and extremist, but I knew, even entering college in 1989, that software (and hardware) freedom was endangered, and needed us to take extraordinary steps to preserve and expand it.
- npteljes 4y agoI deeply appreciate his work as the founder of the free software movement. Digital goods can be replicated for no cost, and this, combined with the spirit of free software really made for something special.
- cristiioan 4y agoGetting that level of trust is the hardest part. If you don't mind losing performance, HEADS + Qubes OS try to get that on older thinkpads.
- npteljes 4y agoYes, I do think that way, but of course it doesn't mean that I don't participate. I just consider it when it comes to choosing these things into my life. I don't even think that most people need to think about this. It's enough that a few security minded people do, and that they end up pushing for good regulation. Similarly to food safety, we then end up in a system where you can go to most places and expect to not get food poisoning.