For years, hackers have focused on finding bugs in computer software that give them unauthorized access to computer systems, but now there's another way to break in: Hack the microprocessor. On Tuesday, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign demonstrated how they altered a computer chip to grant attackers back-door access to a computer. It would take a lot of work to make this attack succeed in the real world, but it would be virtually undetectable. It's actually kind of funny that they decided to mention that this system was "running the Linux operating system". Regardless of the OS, a hardware level exploit such as this poses such a bigger threat than just OS security. Although this type of exploit is much harder to deploy rather than software, this article poses interesting situations on how exactly it can be carried out.. The link for this article located at Network World is no longer available. . Analyzes potential vulnerabilities in microprocessor architecture that can be leveraged for clandestine entry and security risks in Linux environments.. Microprocessor Security, Backdoor Attack, Linux Threats. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
Transmeta chief executive David Ditzel chuckles at the memory of the sudden interest in the company's trash weeks before taking the wraps off its new, top-secret Crusoe computer chip. But with hundreds of millions of dollars of research on the line, keeping the microprocessor's specifications secret was no laughing matter.. . .. Transmeta chief executive David Ditzel chuckles at the memory of the sudden interest in the company's trash weeks before taking the wraps off its new, top-secret Crusoe computer chip. But with hundreds of millions of dollars of research on the line, keeping the microprocessor's specifications secret was no laughing matter. Ditzel and other employees at Transmeta's sprawling low-rise office complex, located in an area tightly packed with semiconductor companies, kept a careful watch on the trash bins and chased off several people, including one whose car bore the bumper sticker of a well-known rival. The link for this article located at ABC News is no longer available. . Transmeta chief executive David Ditzel chuckles at the memory of the sudden interest in the company'. transmeta, chief, executive, david, ditzel, chuckles, memory, sudden, interest, company'. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
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