Feature Request: Allow Disabling of Intel ME

To summarize the issue (from this website):

"Intel's Management Engine (ME) is a completely separate computing environment running on Intel chipsets that has access to everything. The ME has network access, access to the host operating system, memory, and cryptography engine. The ME can be used remotely even if the PC is powered off. If that sounds scary, it gets even worse: no one knows what the ME is doing, and we can't even look at the code. When -- not `if' -- the ME is finally cracked open, every computer running on a recent Intel chip will have a huge security and privacy issue. Intel's Management Engine is the single most dangerous piece of computer hardware ever created."

We are all aware of the public vulnerabilities which Intel has admitted, but it's likely NSA or others have toolkits for accessing it which have not been publicized nor patched.  In the interests of privacy, it would be desirable for this spyware to be disabled. 

The ME is actually used to boot the main CPU, but all the rest of its functionality can be removed by BIOS mods, such as are described here.

However, this would likely void Asrock's warranty.  Much better would be for Asrock to step up and implement this feature themselves, via either a BIOS configuration option, or an alternative BIOS.  It would be a selling point for Asrock over its competitors to provide a secure, non-pwnable platform.

wardog wrote: I can all but guarantee you ASRock nor any other motherboard manufacturer will offer a Toggle for this as a BIOS Option. Period. No arguments. Intel would NOT allow it.

Intel has that much control over what BIOS options various motherboard manufacturers provide?  Sounds like a class action lawsuit needs to be filed to order the SEC to reign in Intel and stop them from restraining the free market with over-controlling licensing agreements.  Too powerful.

As evidence that resistance isn't futile, System 76 is already selling laptops with it disabled right now, and there's this from liliputing.com:

But independent researchers have recently discovered a way to disable the Intel Management Engine and companies including Google and Purism have already announced plans to do so.

Edited by Beowulf - 08 Mar 2018 at 12:22pm

Interesting System76's Lemur still has ME disabled

https://system76.com/laptops/lemur

<me> clutching my left gonad !