101. Boot, Chips, and Backdoors: Unpacking Modern Computer Security

Ever wonder what happens the moment you press the power button, even before your operating system loads? This episode dives deep into the foundational boot process, exploring boot programs, bootloaders, and the evolution from BIOS to the modern UEFI firmware. We'll demystify concepts like Secure Boot and the role of CMOS memory. But the journey doesn't stop there. We then uncover the often-unseen world of embedded management technologies within your CPU – Intel's Management Engine (ME) and AMD's Platform Security Processor (PSP). Discover what these powerful subsystems do, why they operate with such deep system access, and the significant security and privacy concerns they raise due to their proprietary nature and potential vulnerabilities. Join us as we unpack the intricate layers of security, from firmware to the chip itself.