Live data from Hacker News

The Dangers of Microsoft Pluton

gabrielsieben.tech

531–540 of 554 posts

Re: The Dangers of Microsoft Pluton

#531

Practically speaking, outside Intel and AMD, what CPUs are left to use?

RISC-V.

However, RISC-V is not x86. So, if you want to use the x86 instruction set, then will you need emulation? The modern x86 are too complicated anyways (in many ways; Pluton is just one of them but not only one, also the instructions is too complicated), but I think the old 8088 is reasonably not too complicated.

Re: The Dangers of Microsoft Pluton

#532
post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So basically, Cory Doctorow's "The Upcoming War Against General Computation" ? https://boingboing.net/2011/12/27/the-coming-war-on-general-... https://github.com/jwise/28c3-doctorow/blob/master/transcrip... Don't know enough about the subject to tell if his "attempts to control general computation will converge on rootkits" prediction has held up.

To this talk, there exists a less well-known sequel: DEF CON 23 - Cory Doctorow - Fighting Back in the War on General Purpose Computers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT6itfUUsoQ

Thank you for bringing this to my attention, will check it out after work

Re: The Dangers of Microsoft Pluton

#533

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think this is more for Android phones, and preventing a malicious app on your phone from using the root access to hijack data from your banking app.

Well that's the problem.... the next step would be requiring users to use MS Edge, because a malicious version of firefox could capture/modify banking/transaction data. Want to pay bills? Give money to microsoft first.

Are you saying the bank doesn’t have the right to define what kinds of software are permitted to access its systems?

We’re not just talking about the freedom to run software on your own device here, we’re talking about interacting with outside systems. There is an important distinction in context.

Re: The Dangers of Microsoft Pluton

#534
post #342
post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed, so the user should not buy a computer where they're not in control of the TPM, if you can't disable it/add your own keys, then don't buy that computer

That rapidly converges on "you can't buy a computer and use it", because economic interests favor trusted computing devices.

Only if only 1% of the population know the risks, teach the other 99% to care. Same with any civic problem

Re: The Dangers of Microsoft Pluton

#535

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well that's the problem.... the next step would be requiring users to use MS Edge, because a malicious version of firefox could capture/modify banking/transaction data. Want to pay bills? Give money to microsoft first.

Are you saying the bank doesn’t have the right to define what kinds of software are permitted to access its systems? We’re not just talking about the freedom to run software on your own device here, we’re talking about interacting with outside systems. There is an important distinction in context.

It's a browser.

As long as it adheres to basic web standards, I believe no, the bank should have no say in what browser you use to access their webpage.

Re: The Dangers of Microsoft Pluton

#536

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The EU just mandated chats to be scanned for content. Of course just for CSAM just as the meta data collection is only used for terrorism. Problem is that the latter is also used for parking tickets. They really try to hit the definition of a totalitarian state by the letter.

The law has yet to be passed. And its facing immense backlash, even from governments like Germany.

I doubt backlash will do anything. Regardless, the EU also mass collected personal data and made this behavior legal retroactively for authorities like Europol. The course for ever increasing surveillance has long been chosen. Government often disavows such decisions but that is exactly their strategy to implement such laws while evading criticism themselves.

Re: The Dangers of Microsoft Pluton

#537

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is precisely the proof I need before I ever buy into either. I'm very optimistic about PinePhone but AIUI it's currently quite far from being a reliable daily driver for the kinds of tasks I need one for.

If everyone behaved as you do, we probably wouldn't have any progress.

I care about open smartphones, but not to the extent that I care about other things.

A de-Googled Android or iOS device with a judicious selection of apps is good enough to fulfill 80% of the "geek device" use case segment (though not at the same time - de-Googled Android is better at running arbitrary software, whereas iOS seems to be better at painless privacy). I'm just not invested enough in open smartphones to fight PinePhone's software immaturity, or to spend crazy amounts of cash on a Librem.

On the other hand, I was an adopter of the Pinebook, and will be for (affordable) productivity VR as soon as I get the chance. For both of these form factors, I'm more than happy to write 80% of the UI I use if it gives me what I want otherwise.

Re: The Dangers of Microsoft Pluton

#538
post #524

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why don’t you spell out the conspiracy theory directly? It’s not relevant to this thread even if true but leaving the details vague makes it seem like you don’t think it would stand up.

You only think it's a "conspiracy theory" because that's what they have told you to believe. The organisations of OSS have been infected with those whose ultimate goal is to EEE, and they will do it by whatever means they have available to them.

No, I think it’s a conspiracy theory because it’s poorly argued and full of insinuation, following the classic pattern of expecting the reader to fill in the gaps. This is how it magically becomes a negative when someone works to make free software compatible with modern hardware in a way most users want.

Re: The Dangers of Microsoft Pluton

#539

The thing I fear the most with this is "proof that secure boot has never been disabled". This is just a way to brick your device from accessing services. What if you government's tax service requires such proof? Or bank? I cannot count how many machines I booted on Linux to rescue a hard drive, or image it, or wipe it, or just to install linux on them. All those devices, boom, paperweight for regular personal use. I…

This is already a problem with SafetyNet hardware attestation on Android. Because it's so easy to implement on the app side, everything from banking apps to games is verifying the device is running a blessed system image with a locked bootloader and no root access (read: no access to general-purpose computing). As a developer of a banking app, I do my best to avoid implementing this user-hostile crap, but not all dev…

I really appreciate knowing some devs are out there defending us from the banking app madness. I'd encourage you, given your position, to write a blog post about why device ownership is important and your experiences on how others should consider operating.

Re: The Dangers of Microsoft Pluton

#540

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, they already use Kerberos, his dog.

But they also have winsock trumpet. They need to pick a lane, I can't deal with the oscillation between goofy and evil.

Trumpet was an acquisition, so not orginally theirs
Post reply on HN