From Newsgroup: misc.phone.mobile.iphone
Mr Anderson once wrote:
Mac users usually have money and regularly buy
new Macs with the excellent macOS operating system,
Not forgetting Mac is spyware of course...
https://macpaw.com/how-to/detect-spyware-on-mac
https://mackeeper.com/blog/spyware-on-mac/
Linux vs macOS: What You Need to Know and Which One Is Best for You...
https://cyberpanel.net/blog/linux-vs-macos
Maybe interesting for you and your Linux box...
Modern Intel and AMD CPUs contain separate, tiny computer systems that run independently from your main operating system (like Windows or Linux). These systems are the source of theoretical remote spying concerns.
1. The Subsystems: Intel ME and AMD PSP
Intel Management Engine (ME): A dedicated microcontroller inside Intel chips. It has its own CPU, memory, and firmware. It starts before your main operating system and has high-level access to your computer's memory, network, and hardware.
AMD Platform Security Processor (PSP): AMD's equivalent system, based on an ARM core. It performs similar functions for AMD processors.
Why They Raise Security Concerns:
High Privilege: They operate "below" the operating system, making them difficult for security software to monitor or control.
Always-On: They are active whenever the computer has power, even in sleep mode.
Remote Access: Features like Intel Active Management Technology (AMT) allow for out-of-band remote management. If compromised, this could enable remote control or spying.
Closed Source: Their code is proprietary and not visible for public security auditing.
Past Vulnerabilities: Critical security flaws (e.g., CVE-2017-5689) have been found in the ME, proving it is a real, exploitable target for attackers.
2. The MINIX Inside Intel CPUs
This was a specific and surprising detail that heightened concerns:
For many years (approx. 2008-2020), Intel used a modified version of the MINIX 3 operating system as the core software for its Management Engine.
Why it was shocking: Users discovered a full, capable, and invisible operating systemrCowith its own networking stack and driversrCorunning silently on a hidden processor inside their CPU. This massively increased the perceived "attack surface" and fueled distrust about potential backdoors or undocumented features.
Current Status: In newer CPU generations, Intel has gradually replaced MINIX with its own, more streamlined microkernel. However, the fundamental architecture of the ME/PSP remains.
User-Friendly Bottom Line:
Think of your main CPU as the "visible" computer you use. Inside it, there's a much smaller, "invisible" computer (the ME or PSP) that handles critical background tasks for security, power-up, and remote management.
The core concern is that this "invisible computer":
1. Is very powerful and has deep access to your system.
2. Is a "black box" that users cannot inspect or disable.
3. Has a history of serious security bugs.
4. In theory, could be exploited by sophisticated attackers (like nation-states) for persistent remote spying or control.
While these subsystems serve legitimate purposes, their design inherently creates a potential target for high-level espionage, which is why security researchers and privacy-conscious users have long been critical of them.
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