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its_magicyesterday at 11:39 PM3 repliesview on HN

I'm sure that will contribute to the illusion of security, but in reality the system is thoroughly backdoored on every level from the CPU on up, and everyone knows it.

There is no such thing as computer security, in general, at this point in history.


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ashishbyesterday at 11:42 PM

> but in reality the system is thoroughly backdoored on every level from the CPU on up, and everyone knows it.

Indeed. Why lock your car door as anyone can unlock and steal it by learning lock-picking?

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themafiatoday at 6:10 AM

I'm sure you're right; however, there is still a distinction between the state using my device against me and unaffiliated or foreign states using my device against me or more likely simply to generate cash for themselves.

It's still worth solving one of these problems.

rectangyesterday at 11:45 PM

There's a subtlety that's missing here: if your threat model doesn't include the actors who can access those backdoors, then computer security isn't so bad these days.

That subtlety is important because it explains how the backdoors have snuck in — most people feel safe because they are not targeted, so there's no hue and cry.

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