# How secure is System76 laptop with disabled Intel Management Engine compared to other mainstream laptops?

**URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/how-secure-is-system76-laptop-with-disabled-intel-management-engine-compared-to-other-mainstream-laptops/25314
**Category:** Questions
**Tags:** hardware
**Created:** 2025-02-26T20:06:12Z
**Posts:** 19
**Showing post:** 5 of 19

## Post 5 by @jonah — 2025-02-26T23:34:13Z

> [@overdrawn98901](#):
>
> What attacks have been conducted

> [@Intel ME & hardware backdoor speculation](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/intel-me-hardware-backdoor-speculation/20776/2):
>
> Intel ME has [numerous](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Management_Engine#Security_vulnerabilities) and very well documented drawbacks and vulnerabilities. There is no reason that the security advantages that Intel ME _does_ provide have to be part of an overall insecurely-implemented package. Intel could easily modularize these security components and implement them in a less lazy way, like Apple is doing with Apple Silicon for example.

* * *

> [@overdrawn98901](#):
>
> For a non rhetorical question, what is a threat model + threat level to even begin to worry about these systems?

I would **currently** consider it fairly unlikely to be attacked in this manner by anyone other than advanced state actors.

However, the risk to _all_ users if an an easily exploitable vulnerability is discovered in the future is extremely high, so it is still worth advocating against Intel ME.

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