You ask a lot of questions that seem sarcastic. I don't believe you really want to learn how this all works, you just want to rant.
In the mean time you should be glad this adds an extra layer of security to all the corporate pc's out there that have mountains of your personal data on them.
I imagine most of those corporate PCs aren't running their web servers on laptops that can be lifted in the blink of an eye. I could be wrong but Im just saying....
Honestly, I have no interest in ranting. I ask questions that are valid. How is shutting down a CPU remotely any better than the combination of
A) a password protected BOOT which already exists in most computers +
B) bitlocker encrypted partitions on the hard drive
Im curious how shutting down the CPU remotely is better than other solutions. What does it add to the security layer? Delays the thief's acquisition of data by the number of minutes it takes to rip the hard drive out of one laptop and install it in another?
You would probably say but if the thief does that the drive is encrypted so he can't access the data. And I would say, okay, and how is that any different from a bitlocker encrypted hard drive?
Seriously, what does being able to shut down the CPU remotely add to "anything"? Throw the hard drive into any computer that doesn't have a Sandy Bridge CPU inside and the thief has hours and hours and hours and hours to break the software encryption on the drive.
Now, if ATT 3.0 technology exists in the CPU, and it exists in the hardware of the hard disk drives this will become more secure. Maybe thats the plan. But if hard disk drives, in the future, do implement ATT 3.0 technology so that the hard drive won't even spin-up without attachment to a Sandy Bridge CPU, what becomes of the necessity to shut down the CPU remotely other than to punish the thief? Layers of security are a fine concept as long as they make sense. I guess it will slow thieves down and if thats the goal I guess it succeeds in that respect, however little it may be.
Just out of curiosity, and this is a thought that just came to me. Since Intel will be selling millions of CPUs with this technology, since it is obviously so popular with some, will there be other costs for this service, other than the initial CPU purchase, to shut down these CPUs or is this something Intel will perform for free? Im sure their going to love getting thousands of calls monthly reporting stolen laptops only to have the owner call back at a later time, saying "OOps, hehehehe. Silly me. I found my laptop. It wasn't stolen after all. Can you reactivate me, please?" A 24/7 Intel emergency call center for activating and deactivating stolen laptops.
How will PC repair technicians know whether an Intel Sandy Bridge CPU is D.O.A or its been disabled via ATT 3.0? So they will have to call Intel all the time to find out I guess.
How will marital disputes be resolved when a couple argue in a divorce over who really owns the laptop? Whats going to be the proof of ownership? Posession of a receipt? Well, that means anybody who receives a laptop as a gift is out of luck. They won't be considered as the legal owners.
What must be done when someone wants to sell their laptop with a ATT 3.0 technology? How is the ownership transferred smoothly so that Intel knows for sure that ownership has been legally transferred? Oh, lots more customer service work for Intel. What happens in 3 years when Sandy Bridge CPUs are selling for $50 instead of $200 a CPU? Is Intel going to want to bother with all this?
I can see someone calling Intel to report a lost/stolen laptop that is 5 years old.
Intel Rep: "Intel theft hotline, can I help you?"
Customer: "Yes, my laptop has been stolen. Can you please deactivate the CPU. I have some valuable porn on the hard disk I dont want anyone to have access to".
Intel rep: "Certainly, when did you purchase the CPU?"
Customer: "Oh about 2 weejs ago. But the manufacturing date on the CPU indicates its approximately 5 years old. Bought it off a guy who needed some beer money for $50 bucks".
Intel rep: "Sorry, we cant help you sir. I make $20/hour here answering the telephones so you are actually costing us money right now. Suck it up and buy yourself a new CPU".
Customer: "Okay. Thank you very much. Wonderful service".
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