Some computers do not require having the ME firmware installed. Usually, these are computers supported by a 100% free BIOS replacement such as GNU Boot (see the compatible models on the website). Libreboot was fully free in the past but it’s not true anymore since it does now support computers needing the ME working (at least for computer initialization) but neutered so that most of it can’t operate. However, you can’t be sure whether a neutered ME is harmful or not since we don’t know what it can really do as the initialization source code is not known.
I could be wrong, but if I remember correctly, the Thinkpad x61 was the last version to ship without Intel ME, and I assumed the meme was a nod to that.
We can get around Intel ME?
Some computers do not require having the ME firmware installed. Usually, these are computers supported by a 100% free BIOS replacement such as GNU Boot (see the compatible models on the website). Libreboot was fully free in the past but it’s not true anymore since it does now support computers needing the ME working (at least for computer initialization) but neutered so that most of it can’t operate. However, you can’t be sure whether a neutered ME is harmful or not since we don’t know what it can really do as the initialization source code is not known.
I could be wrong, but if I remember correctly, the Thinkpad x61 was the last version to ship without Intel ME, and I assumed the meme was a nod to that.
Don’t buy an Intel CPU :)
AMD has PSP, same bullshit. I’m not ARM ready either.
Pretty sure there’s a script somewhere that neuters it a bit.