5 ms·
Ask HN: Which PC's BIOS is most resistant to rootkits?
Hi,
It's become clear that both my HP PC's have rootkits installed to their BIOS. I hear my upstairs neighbors reading off my screen regardless of what OS I install. I filed a Police report, & a claim w/ my Renter's insurance, but it doesn't look like anything positive will happen- the PD hasn't got back to me in a week, & the claims adjuster said there's not much that can be done since I don't have ID Theft coverage.
I'm hoping the insurance claim will at least provide enough to get a new PC that's not infected. Naturally, I'm thinking about what PC I can get that'll be most resistant to re-infection.
Thus, I ask here- as my attackers watch my screen.
- auganov 11y agoThat situation sounds so weird :O I'm sure everyone would love more details? Libreboot I assume is the least likely to be compromised? I don't know much about it, I just trust Stallman to be the go-to person on such issues. https://stallman.org/stallman-computing.html https://stallman.org/stallman-computing.html Edit: Sorry, you asked about specific PCs. It seems as far as libreboot goes you can only get one of the 10 supported laptops/boards.
- nfriedly 11y agoI second the request for more details. How do you know it's your upstairs neighbors? Have you asked them? How do you know that they're reading off of your screen? If it is them, could they just be reading your screen through an hole in your ceiling? What OS'es have you tried? Is there a possible other explanation, such as screen reading software (e.g.jaws)?
- beagle3 11y ago1. Reading of the screen can be done in ways other than root kits, e.g. TEMPEST[0], or a good enough strategically placed webcam, or a telescope pointing at a window on a nearby building that functions as a mirror. 2. BIOS rootkits are definitely possible, and quite scary. However, I have so far not found any reliable documentation about them being found "in the wild" - does anyone else have any? (Yes, I am aware of the Snowden disclosures; Yes, I've seen stuff like Thunderstrike in action; But these things, if/when used, are extremely targeted. Is there a dependable writeup of a non-targeted BIOS rootkit found in the wild?) 3. If you don't know how you got infected, what makes you think a new PC will solve the problem? PCs are programmable devices. No programmable device is safe. There have been reports of malware hiding in GPU firmware, USB controllers, SD cards and HDD / SSD controllers. The PC itself is just a small part of the overall equation. 4. Have you had a psychological or physiological crisis recently? Have you done some known or unknown chemicals recently? uptake of cigarettes? Do you have a history of schizophrenia in your family? It might be a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional and tell them about what you are experiencing. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempest_%28codename%29 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempest_%28codename%29